Man arrested over 999 calls

Police said they had to send officers who could have been elsewhere

A man has been arrested for making more than 40 hoax 999 calls in a period of three hours.

Surrey Police said the calls were made from public phone boxes in Englefield Green between 0220 BST and 0515 BST on 5 July.

The 24-year-old man was consequently arrested and was released on police bail.

Superintendent Guy Darby, who is responsible for operational communications for Surrey Police said: "We take matters of this nature very seriously indeed and will prosecute anyone responsible for such calls to the full extent of the law.

"This individual put the lives of other people in Surrey at risk

"He tied up the 999 lines and our operators for two hours and placed a strain on our resources.

"In addition we had to send officers who could have been deployed elsewhere in the county.

"Ultimately our service to other members of the public who had a genuine need for an emergency police response will have been adversely affected."