Man arrested after over 40 abusive calls made to police

A man has been arrested after over 40 abusive calls were made to police. Cheshire Constabulary begun investigating after call handlers got more than ten non-emergency calls on Sunday (December 1).

The force said the man was 'verbally abusive' towards staff. He was later traced to an address in Prestbury, Cheshire and arrested on suspicion of sending an offensive/menacing message over a public network.

Following his arrest, Cheshire Police said detectives found how more than 30 calls of a similar nature had been made to Hertfordshire Police between November 20 and December 1.

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The suspect has since been released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

Chief Inspector Daniel Reynolds, of Cheshire Constabulary's Force Control Centre, said: “Our call handlers play a vital role in the receipt of emergency calls from the public needing our help; they are not there to be subjected to torrent of abuse from nuisance callers with nothing better to do when they should be speaking to those who are genuinely in need.

“Be under no illusion, this is a criminal offence. If you are found guilty of misusing the 101 and 999 systems, you could face a fine of up to £5,000 fine or six months imprisonment.”