People making hoax calls to the fire service in Shropshire face losing the use of their mobile phones as officials step up action to combat a crime they fear is putting lives at risk.

More than 400 malicious 999 calls a year are made to the fire service headquarters in Shrewsbury, sending firefighters and appliances out on false missions when they might be needed at a real emergency.

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Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is now contacting the telephone networks to ask for the disconnection of any mobile telephones used to make malicious emergency calls.

“Most of our malicious calls originate from children and young adults,” said Dave Bartlett of the brigade’s fire signal team. 

“I would like to impress upon them that once they have had their phone disconnected, their provider will not reinstate the service and £70 or £80 is a lot to pay for a piece of plastic that can no longer be used as a phone or to text your friends. 

“We are concerned that the continuing misuse of this public emergency system is putting road users at risk, removing essential cover for real emergencies and reducing the time available for our staff to carry out public safety work and training.” 

Mr Bartlett warned: “People must understand that whenever a 999 call is made, we always record the call, so we can identify the caller’s voice, and we always know the number of the telephone being used to make the call.”

Anyone convicted of making a malicious emergency call faces a maximum £2,000 fine and/or a year in prison.

Firefighters regularly go into schools to educate pupils about malicious calls and teach them about fire safety and fire prevention. 

Mr Bartlett added: “One foolish caller may think it is a joke to call out the fire service but it will result in someone’s death if we can’t get to them in time because we have been called out by a hoaxer.” 

As part of the drive to educate young people about making malicious calls the service’s intervention team will accept referrals from concerned parents, teachers and other professionals.

By Dave Morris