THE effect on our fire, ambulance and police services of malicious hoax calls are threefold.

First, there is the waste of resources as emergency vehicles and officers are sent to an incident that does not exist.

Second there is the risk to others caused by services being diverted potentially from an emergency where they are needed.

And third, there is the financial cost to the tax-payer who have to pick up the bill - £639,000 in Gwent alone last year.

Now fire chiefs are adopting a zero tolerance approach to the problem and are to publicise calls made by persistent malicious hoax callers to encourage the public to name and shame those involved.

Historically Newport has experienced significant problems with such malicious hoax calls and we would urge anyone who has any information to report it to the authorities.

Such calls are not always made by youngsters playing a prank, but in some cases are made by persistent callers who report serious chemical spills or other major emergencies to waste as many emergency resources as possible.

This is totally unacceptable behaviour and must be stopped.

One of the best ways to do so is to make sure such people are named and shamed so they can then be prosecuted and punished.

The message to hoaxers is very clearly that they will be found out.

Listen to recent hoax calls and see if you recognise these malicious callers.