THERE was a huge, 173 per cent increase in the number of hoax telephone calls made to Sussex Police last year.
The force received a total of 12,121 hoax calls in 2009.
In the Worthing divisional area there was a 101 per cent increase, to 410 hoax calls.
Insp Jason Wilson, speaking for Adur and Worthing police district, told the Herald: "Hoax calls are
a menace to the emergency services as well as to the general public and tax payer.
"They divert vital resources from genuine calls for help, putting people in danger and lives at risk.
"Those persons found to be making hoax calls have been, and will continue to be, dealt with robustly."
The figures were revealed following a Freedom of Information request from Ian Ross, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Worthing West.
Mr Ross said: "Having spoken to those front-line officers, it is clear a lot of the hoax calls come from young people messing around.
"I want to see schools doing more to make young people aware of the consequences of making a hoax emergency call. Parents also need to play their part."
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