Calling 999 for a joke could cost someone their life!
Unfortunately, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service along with other emergency services throughout Northern Ireland receives many hoax calls. Evidence has
indicated that most hoax calls throughout Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole are made by children, although we do receive a lot from adults too!
So What is a Hoax Call?
Hoax calls can be classified in several different ways:
Hoax/malicious call: Where the emergency service has been called to an incident that does not exist.
False call: Possibly a child playing with the telephone.
Genuine Error: Possibly where the number 9 has been repeatedly pressed, incorrectly.
Silent Calls: The caller does not speak but holds up the line.
Making a hoax call is time wasting for front line and Control staff that have to investigate the call and make it very dangerous for you - the public as a whole.
Remember - when an ambulance is away from your local ambulance station responding to a hoax call, you may have a real life emergency to deal with. It's a waste of
precious time, resources and puts lives at risk.
Time is vital in all emergency situations. People's lives could be put in danger because of a hoax call.
It is also a criminal offence to make a hoax call. This means we can take you to Court because of it and you may face paying a large fine.
When you dial 999 for the Ambulance Service - whether it's from your mobile phone, your own telephone or even a telephone kiosk, the number you are calling
from is displayed. The Police can trace ALL calls made to 999, even if you dial 141 before you call, we can still get your details.
PEOPLE WHO MAKE HOAX CALLS WILL BE FOUND! Hoax999.com
During 2005, British Telecom (NI) and the emergency services launched an initiative to reduce the number of hoax calls to the emergency services as a whole
throughout Northern Ireland and to reduce incidences of payphone vandalism.
Their website will help you to understand good citizenship, how to dial 999 safely and appropriately and outline the potential tragic consequences of making hoax
calls and was supported by NIAS and the:
- Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service;
- Police Service for Northern Ireland;
- Martime and Coastguard.
For more information, please log on to Hoax999.com
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