Fire crews face hundreds of hoax calls every year, but lives are continuing to be put at risk.
Freedom of Information Data obtained by the ECHO shows that in 2021 alone, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service received 180 malicious calls. These were cases where a person has called 999, but there was no sign of incident when fire crews arrived.
That year, the service recorded 263 calls classed as abandoned, meaning the caller hangs up when the control operator answers the call and 34 were challenged, meaning the caller hangs up when questioned for details. This brings the total to 477 hoax calls.
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The data, which was taken from live incident recording system, shows that from January to May this year, already 52 malicious calls have been recorded as well as 142 abandoned and 15 challenged. In 2022, February saw the highest number of malicious calls made to the service with 14, followed by March with 12.
It is unknown whether a call is a malicious call until MFRS are in attendance at the location, advised by the caller. Speaking to the ECHO, Area Manager Mark Thomas said people making "prank calls" to emergency services are "frankly, putting lives at risk" and "will not be tolerated". The penalty for a "cheap laugh" can be thousands of pounds, as well as the "real possibility" of a prison sentence.
He said: "At Merseyside Fire and Rescue, any given year we receive several hundred hoax calls, some are deemed malicious. These are of particular concern to us because clearly, when a fire engine is deployed because someone thinks it will be a bit of fun, it's taken away from its area and station.
"We have a finite number of resources and therefore, an appliance may be unable to get to something more serious such as a fire or a road traffic accident. And it's not just an appliance out of action, it's the crew and life-saving equipment they carry so it's really important they are available all the time and can respond.
"People may view it as a bit of fun but it's a massive drain on our resources and there is a real danger an appliance is taken from a real incident. It also puts a strain on the control room staff deploying people to these incidents.
"It puts lives at risk and we would appeal to people to think twice if they see this as a bit of fun. It may even result in their friends or family being put at risk if something thinks it's funny to call a fire engine elsewhere.
"There will doubtless be many incidents where crews are deployed to hoax calls when they should be being used elsewhere and that is a real concern. People need to come away from that type of behaviour."
With the ongoing concern over the number of hoax calls year on year, the fire service continues to work with partners to ensure they are "robust in addressing this." For example, all calls are recorded and will be traced back to the caller regardless of whether it was made from a public telephone.
Mr Thomas added: "People won't get away with this. We will trace calls and we will bring these people into the criminal justice system because it is a criminal offence. People may not be aware there are fines of several thousands of pounds and a possible prison sentence.
"And as well, if someone knows something or is protecting someone, we view them equally as culpable." According to the FOI data, for 2020 and 2021, the majority of malicious calls to the control room were made during the late evening from 6pm onwards through to the early hours of the morning.
The service also works with children and young people through school visits to talk about anti-social fire starting and hoax calls as well as street prevention teams actively working on the streets in hot spot areas.
The Freedom of Information data showed that in 2021, the months with the highest number of malicious calls made were October, the month of Mischief Night and Halloween, with 29 calls - the highest monthly number since 2020. This was followed by September, November and December with 18 malicious calls made each month.
However, people are being urged to call the fire service if they are concerned there is a fire or they hear a smoke alarm of any kind as the area manager added: "It's really important people know what the smoke alarm means and when it alerts and the sound it makes. It's important to make sure it works.
"On the one hand we are pushing the message on hoax calls but on the other hand it's really important that if you think there is a fire that you call us. You will never be punished or penalised for a genuine concern so it's really important you call us."
In 2020, the total number of hoax calls sat at 367, compared to 477 in 2021 and 209 from January to May 2022. Looking ahead to later this year towards Bonfire Night and Mischief Night, Mr Thomas is urging people to remain safe and respectful.
He told the ECHO that the issue lies not only with hoax calls, but an increasing concern over attacks on emergency service personnel. He said: "As a whole we are viewed as a key partner and friendly to communities but every now and then, as we move towards Bonfire night and Mischief period, we do see attacks on staff.
"We view this as totally unacceptable, under the uniform every firefighter in service is a mother, father, daughter son, brother, sister and it is wholly unacceptable. Our people should not be attacked for carrying out their own jobs and we are working with colleagues in the police.
"Bonfire night is a concerns every year because every year we see more attacks. Our staff do an incredible job working in the community with partners to make people safer. To be attacked while doing that job is totally unacceptable and we will work with police, use CCTV on appliances and any means necessary to bring those involved to justice."
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