Man in Peterborough called police to say 'he had a bomb in his car'
Police have issued a warning against making hoax 999 calls after a man in Peterborough said there was a bomb in his car.
Cambridgeshire Police said the call was made recently by ‘a man driving down the motorway.’
A spokesperson for the force said: “Although the line was very poor, the call taker was sure they heard the man mention a car registration plate, and a bomb.... and then the line cut out.
“The mention of a bomb raised immediate alarm bells, and the call taker got to work trying to get back in contact with the man, whose location had now been traced to a motorway in Peterborough.
“The man answered the call-back, and explained that they had heard him correctly. He calmly said that there may be a bomb in the car he was travelling in, but that it was nothing to worry about.
“Despite his calm demeanour, officers were immediately dispatched to the scene. However, after checking the system, the operator noticed that the caller had a history of making calls that weren't all they seemed to be.
“When officers reached the man's location, there was no bomb, and thankfully everyone was safe. The man admitted that the call had been a hoax.
“Sadly, hoax calls like these are a regular occurrence for our call takers, who are just trying to do their job and help people in genuine emergencies.”
Misuse of 999 and hoax calls are a criminal offence. You could face a maximum penalty of up to six months in prison or a fine of £5,000.