Use it - don't abuse it!

If you dial 999 and make a hoax call you may be committing more than one offence.

If caught you can get a £5,000 fine, six months in prison, or both!

Making a hoax call is not only illegal - it is also dangerous. Fire crews sent out in response to a hoax call cannot attend a real emergency. Following up these calls puts lives and property at extra risk.

Use it - don't abuse it!

In 2002-2003, SFRS received 672 malicious / hoax calls (mainly made by children who think it is a joke). To reduce the problem the Fire Service has introduced a system entitled Call Challenging.

This procedure assists control room staff to verify a genuine call. All calls register with immediate caller identification and your voice is recorded.

Details will be passed onto the Police for further action and the recorded information can be used if a decision is made to prosecute you.

Call challenging embarrasses some hoaxers and they often hang the phone up when questioned, but we still attend half of the hoax calls.

Because more hoax calls are being made from pre-pay mobile phones, Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service is working with mobile phone service providers to make sure these hoaxers pay the price.

After a few precautionary checks mobile phones used to make hoax calls can now be deactivated, by the service provider call centre at the touch of a button.

If we receive a malicious call from your mobile phone we will text you stating that we are aware you have made a malicious call from your number and if it continues Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service will approach your server and get the phone signal barred.

You will lose any credit on the phone and will be liable for prosecution.

Remember we have your number!