Teens arrested over ‘distressing’ hoax calls

Two boys from Hull have been arrested in connection with a series of “distressing” hoax telephone calls.

Humberside Police said the boys, aged 15 and 16, were being questioned about recent reports of hoax calls in which members of the public were told a loved one had died in a road accident.

A spokesman said: “The boys were arrested following our enquiries into a series of hoax calls to members of the public informing them of the death of a loved one in a fatal road traffic collision, which is a very distressing call for anyone to receive.

“We will question the two boys arrested but continue to appeal for anyone who may have received a similar call to please contact us on the non-emergency number 101, quoting log 588 of Thursday 6 May.”

Following these initial reports, Detective Inspector Andy Robinson said: “I would like to reassure people that we are treating these as hoax calls extremely seriously.

“As police officers, we would never contact a member of the public by telephone to inform them of such a tragic and distressing incident.

“If you are contacted by somebody claiming to be a police officer, always ask which police force they are calling from, then if you have concerns hang up and call 101 from a different telephone.”