Hoax calls

Don't make hoax calls - they can cost lives!

The Facts

Every day the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service control room receives hoax calls, reporting incidents that do not exist.

The Danger of such calls

These calls commit fire engines to incidents that do not exist, thus placing genuine callers lives in danger, as fire cover in the county is reduced.

A life was lost in a fire in Southampton when the nearest fire engines were attending a hoax call. In a fire situation seconds can cost lives. It also puts the responding firefighters at risk whilst travelling to hoax calls.

The Warning

Landline Phones

Calls from landline phones give Control Staff immediate access to the number and location of the phone, all calls are digitally tape-recorded. In the case of hoax calls these details can be passed to the Police for prosecution.

Mobile Phones

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) will issue text messages to mobile telephone callers making such a call warning them that, if they persist, their mobiles can be cut off. Should multiple hoax calls be received from mobiles, HFRS Control staff will contact the network provider and ask them to cut the mobile off so that it will not be used to make any calls.

In the past year Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued numerous warnings and had many phones disconnected.