Warning after hoax firearms incident

Police are warning people not to make hoax 999 calls after officers were deployed to a bogus firearms incident in Plymouth on Sunday 21 June.

Officers were called to Freedom Fields Park around 10.45pm after a report to ambulance control that a child has been injured with a firearm and the male suspect was still on scene.

Local and firearms officers and the police helicopter attended the scene and conducted an extensive search of the park and neighbouring area.

The search was stood down after an hour when no child victim, suspect or evidence of a weapon was found.

Further enquiries determined that the call was made anonymously to the ambulance service.

Sector Inspector Sally Hutchings said a police investigation is now underway to trace the irresponsible caller.

“We do not believe that the call was genuine and a considerable amount of police resources were deployed to this incident which turned out to be bogus,” she said.

“We have to treat any such reports of firearms with the appropriate response and resources but can reassure any concerned members of the community that there was no risk to public safety in this instance.

“We treat hoax calls to emergency services extremely seriously. Attending a hoax call means police officers and ambulance crews could have been diverted from real emergencies, putting lives at risk. The consequences could have been dire.

“We are making further enquiries to identify the caller and they can be sure that police action will be taken against them."

Anyone with any information to assist the investigation is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log number 899 of 21/06/15, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.