PEOPLE who make false reports of robberies could find themselves in court facing a six-month jail sentence for wasting police time. And the maximum fine is £2,500. Detectives believe one report in 12 is false, and they have had enough. They this week warn

PEOPLE who make false reports of robberies could find themselves in court facing a six-month jail sentence for wasting police time. And the maximum fine is £2,500.

Detectives believe one report in 12 is false, and they have had enough. They this week warned anyone making a false report that the starting point is an £80 fixed penalty, with more serious offenders being hauled before the courts.

They could also find themselves being investigated for other crimes.

Detective Inspector Matt Potts said: "False reports cause an awful lot of bureaucracy and waste a lot of our time when we have genuine cases that warrant full investigation."

But he stressed that robberies in Huntingdonshire were not common.

"We don't suffer nearly as many personal robberies as our cities, Cambridge and Peterborough, do."

DI Potts believes the motive for fake reports is usually fraudulent insurance claims or attempts to get additional prescribed drugs or duplicate benefit payments.

"It's not like hoax calls to the fire service. I guess the individual is looking for some remuneration and needs a crime number to get it.