A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after a hoax emergency call reporting a stabbing in Station Road, Swindon, triggered a major response from emergency services on Monday night.
Wiltshire Police confirmed that they received a priority 999 call at 9:10pm on 13 January, claiming that a person had been stabbed. The nature of the call led to an immediate and significant response involving:
- Two air ambulances
- Multiple police units
- A critical care team
- Two double-crewed land ambulances
- An operations officer
However, as emergency teams arrived at the scene, further enquiries revealed that the report was a hoax. Officers quickly traced the call and attended the home address of the caller, leading to the arrest of a 16-year-old on suspicion of improper use of an electronic communication system. He has since been released under investigation.
Police Condemn “Reckless” Actions
Chief Superintendent Douglas Downing, head of local policing in Wiltshire, strongly condemned the hoax call, warning of its serious consequences:
“This individual’s actions were incredibly reckless at best. In order to provide a swift response to the public, our operators have to make assumptions that such calls for service are legitimate.”
“However, a single hoax call of this nature can have an enormous impact on the emergency services. It prevents our officers and other emergency services from helping those that need it most.”
Ambulance and Air Ambulance Services Express Frustration
Deputy Director of Operations at the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Wayne Darch, emphasized the strain hoax calls place on already stretched resources:
“The ambulance service and the wider NHS is currently under extreme pressure. Responding to hoax calls takes valuable time and resources away from those most in need – where a life could be at risk.
“To ensure we can be there for those who need us most in a medical emergency, it’s vital we keep our crews available for patients with life-threatening conditions. Please use our services, and those of our blue light colleagues, responsibly.”
Meanwhile, Adam Baker, Deputy Director of Communications for Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity, called for public awareness on the criminal nature of hoax calls:
“Making a hoax call to the emergency services is a criminal offence as it can cost lives.
“Every hoax call we attend takes resources away from genuine emergencies, can delay us in reaching patients with life-threatening injuries or illness, and also wastes valuable funds for the charity, which have been donated by the public.”
Serious Consequences for Hoax Calls
Wiltshire Police have urged the public to take emergency service calls seriously, warning that hoax calls could result in criminal charges and prosecution.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, and further action against the suspect is pending.
Anyone with concerns about misuse of emergency services can report information to Wiltshire Police via 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
