Hoax calls appeal

Crew Manager Janet Mills

Hoax calls can cost lives! Help us catch the culprits by listening to the sound clips below to see if you recognise who might be behind the malicious calls.

Janet Mills (pictured) is a Crew Manager in our 999 Control Centre based at our Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Headquarters in Swinton. Janet and her colleagues have to deal with hoax calls everyday and are aware of how potentially dangerous they can be as they tie up our fire engines when they could be going to real emergencies.

Hoax calls to the emergency services are against the law. In Greater Manchester we record and trace all calls and they can be used as evidence. With the help of Janet we will be updating this page each month with different sound clips of real hoax call offenders who have not yet been caught.

Remember…The maximum penalty for hoax calls offences is imprisonment for up to six months and a fine of £5,000.

Listen to some real hoax calls from across Greater Manchester
If you think you know who any of these hoax calls offenders are you can call Crimestoppers NOW anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Updated April 2009 - Wigan/Newton Heath
Do you recognise these hoax callers. Please help us catch him by listening to the calls to see if you recognise his voice.

Call one part one - Farmfoods, Wood House Lane, Wigan - WMV: 409 KB
Call one part two - Farmfoods, Wood House Lane, Wigan - WMV: 575 KB

Call two part two - Lancaster Court, Newton Heath - WMV: 542 KB

Transcript to follow soon

Updated October 2008 - Oldham/Rochdale
This man has made two hoax 999 calls to the Fire Service regarding boiler fires. Please help us catch him by listening to the calls to see if you recognise his voice.

Call one part one - Boiler fire in kirkholt - Windows Media Audio File (150 KB)

Call one part two - Boiler fire in kirkholt - Windows Media Audio File (469 KB)

Call two part one - Boiler fire in Beal Lane - Windows Media Audio File (122 KB)

Call two part two - Boiler fire in Beal Lane - Windows Media Audio File (803 KB)

Transcripts of the calls

Updated July 2008 - Calls from a mobile phone
Do you recognise this hoax caller who has a distinct West Country accent and makes calls from their mobile phone in different areas across the county including Manchester and Stockport?

Call One - Waste paper bin fire - Windows Media Audio File (108 KB)

Call two - Person in river in Stockport Part A - Windows Media Audio File (122 KB)

Call two - part B - Person in river in Stockport - Windows Media Audio File (78 KB)

Transcripts of the calls

Updated May 2008 - Tameside
These hoax calls were made by young people in Hyde and Ashton-Under-Lyne.

Call one - Boyds Walk house fire - Windows Media Audio File (755 KB)

Call two - Youth Club Fire - Windows Media Audio File (912 KB)

Call three - Petrol bombs - Windows Media Audio File (1,122 KB)

Transcript of the calls

Updated April 2008 - Stockport
Please listen to these sound clips to see if you recognise the voice of the young person who has made more than seven hoax calls to the emergency services in the Stockport area.

Call one - Norcross Road - Windows Media Audio File (892 KB)

Call two - 'I don't know how to spell it' - Windows Media Audio File (390 KB)

Transcript of the calls

Updated March 2008 - Bolton
Do you recognise the man behind these three hoax calls and lots others? The address he gives on the calls is always in the Great Lever area.

Call one - Bin fire - Windows Media Audio File (270 KB)

Call two - The Brooklyn Pub - Windows Media Audio File (90 KB)

Call three - Chip pan fire - Windows Media Audio File (162 KB)

Transcript of the calls

Updated February 2008 - Manchester City Centre
Listen to these two repeat offenders who have made 12 hoax calls between them. Both try to disguise their voices to protect their identity.

Pizza Hut
Call one - Windows Media Audio File (534 KB)

Call two - Windows Media Audio File (484 KB)

Transcript of the calls

Massage Parlour
Call one - Windows Media Audio File (260 KB)

Call two - Windows Media Audio File (379 KB)

Transcript of the calls

Do you recognise one of these voices?
If you think you know who any of these hoax calls offenders are you can call Crimestoppers NOW anonymously on 0800 555 111.