A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after making two hoax 999 calls that sparked a major emergency response in St Neots.
Last week, emergency services received a call claiming two people had been stabbed in the town. The report was treated as a priority incident, with an ambulance, air ambulance, armed police, and paramedics all mobilised.
While en route, the caller suddenly hung up and ignored call-backs. When officers and medics arrived, they found no trace of an incident – only two fire engines driving up and down the street.
Fire crews had also been sent to the same location following a separate 999 call reporting a house fire, but again, there was no sign of an emergency.
Both incidents were quickly confirmed as hoaxes, and the air ambulance, armed response unit, and fire engines were stood down. Police later traced the calls to a 16-year-old boy, who was arrested on suspicion of wasting police time.
A police spokesperson said hoax calls put lives at risk:
“Responding to false reports like this diverts valuable time and resources away from genuine emergencies where lives could be in danger.”
Making hoax calls to the emergency services is a criminal offence and can carry serious penalties.
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