Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Hoax caller sparks murder probe

Stuart Pike
9/10/2007

A BOY sparked a huge murder investigation after falsely claiming a man had been shot dead.

Officers began a search of Boggart Hole Clough on Sunday after receiving an anonymous call that shots had been fired in the area and a man had been killed.

They quickly realised there was no body. It is believed the youngster was playing a practical joke.

Insp Stephen Porter warned hoaxers that police wouldn't hesitate to prosecute them. He said: "These are not jokes or pranks.

"The police have to take these reports seriously until we can establish them to be false. These calls waste massive amounts of time and resources that should be put to use providing the best service to our communities.

"We are constantly striving to provide the best possible service to the people of Greater Manchester. However, our ability to do this is affected when we receive nuisance or hoax calls, which take up valuable time and prevent genuine callers from getting through to GMP.

"I want to make it clear to people that GMP will not hesitate to prosecute anyone who intentionally abuses the system in this way and put people's lives at risk."

A boy of 14 has been arrested on suspicion of wasting police time. He was bailed pending further inquiries.

Persistent nuisance callers can be handed Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), prosecuted under the telecommunications act, or issued with fixed penalty notices.