Charges will be brought against those who falsely report crimes, Sutton police announced this week.

The crackdown follows a review of crime reports which said an alarming 10 per cent of all street crimes reported were believed to be false.

Police say the majority of false street crimes reports involved people claiming their mobile had been stolen to get a new or upgraded model.

So far this year, Sutton police have formally dealt with seven people for wasting police time after they were found to have made false reports.

They either received a caution, a formal reprimand or a formal warning.

But now police say they will charge those who are believed to be wasting police time, which could result in a criminal conviction.

Detective Inspector Ian Smith, of Sutton Police, said: "Police will deal with genuine victims of crime in a professional and sympathetic manner, and we encourage people to keep reporting crime."

"But we hope that by identifying and prosecuting people making false reports we will discourage this trend, leaving Sutton Police free to tackle genuine crimes."

July 18, 2002 10:30