Chippenham Man Busted for Flooding 999 Lines
Police swooped on a Chippenham town centre address after getting hit with multiple 999 calls on Thursday (29/10). The culprit? A man in his 60s, who had already been slapped with a Community Protection Warning (CPW) to stop the relentless ringing – but he ignored it and kept calling.
Phones Seized, Suspect Arrested
At the scene, cops seized four mobile phones linked to the calls. The man was arrested on suspicion of misusing the 999 emergency system. He’s now locked up in Melksham custody, waiting to be questioned.
Serious Consequences for Hoax Callers
“Misuse of the 999 system is a serious offence and could have devastating consequences,” said Sgt Rich Marshall. “Calling 999 when there’s no emergency can block genuine calls, putting lives at risk. Just imagine how you’d feel if you or a loved one needed urgent help and couldn’t get through.”
He added: “We will not stand for abuse of the 999 system. Our call handlers work under tough conditions to help the public — they don’t deserve to waste time on hoax calls.”