MORE than 2,000 victims of nuisance phone callers were helped by the BT malicious calls bureau last month. Specially trained staff at the Blackburn-based bureau provide advice for phone pest victims.
In the last year, 67 malicious phone callers in the North-west have been prosecuted and a further 116 have received official police cautions.
According to statistics 75% of the callers are male while 66% of the victims are female.
The bureau, which opened in 1991, liaises with five police authorities.
In the North-west the police currently ask BT to connect around 120 tracing devices to telephones each week.
A person making a malicious call is committing a criminal offence with a penalty of up to six months imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of £5,000.
Anyone wanting direct help can contact the North West Malicious Calls Bureau free on 0800 661441 during office hours.
BT also provides a free 24 hour recorded information service on 0800 666700.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article