PESTS who make false calls to the emergency services from Bolton phone boxes could soon be recorded on film.

Boxes which are known to have been used by Bolton hoaxers to make malicious 999 calls are to be targeted in a new crackdown.

And for the first time, sub-miniature concealed cameras will be used.

Ambulance, police and fire service staff will be visiting schools near the "hot boxes" to try and identify the culprits and warn pupils about the dangers of making false calls. Within the next few weeks schools near the problem sites in the Astley Bridge, Ainsworth and Breightmet areas will be visited.

Paul Kenny, community liaison manager for Greater Manchester Ambulance Service, told the BEN that as well as talking to pupils during assembly, recordings of the hoax calls will be played in the hope that teachers, children or parents can identify the culprits.

The move is part of a joint clampdown, named Operation Cry Wolf, launched by the emergency services this week. The fire and ambulance services stress that, as well as being a costly nuisance, the growing problem of hoax calls can cost lives, diverting fire engines and ambulances away from genuine life threatening emergencies.

The fire service receives around 10,000 hoax calls a year, with over 850 of them coming from Bolton.

Last year the ambulance service had nearly 3,000 and is expecting to have to deal with 4,400 this year.

Most hoaxers are aged nine to 14. It is known they make their calls between 3pm and 9pm.

With modern technology the location of a call can be identified immediately and anyone caught making a hoax call risks a fine of up to £2,500 or up to three months in prison.

BT is also joining in the campaign and warns that where false calls are made from residential phones they will compile information for prosecutions and threaten disconnection.

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