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Wasting police time

s.5(2)Criminal Law Act 1967

Causing wasteful employment of the police by knowingly making a false report that an offence has been committed, that people or property are in danger, or that you have information material to a police inquiry.

Wasting police time · Criminal Law Act 1967, s.5(2)Card 111 / 85

Points to prove

Caused wasteful employment of the police
By knowingly making a false report
To any person
Tending to show that an offence had been committed, or to give rise to fear for the safety of any persons or property, or tending to show that they had information material to any police inquiry

Key definitions

Wasteful employment of the police – police time and resources actually used up as a result of the false report. Not defined in the Act.
Knowingly – the defendant must know the report is false. An honest but mistaken report is not this offence.
To any person – the report does not have to be made to the police directly. A false report to someone else that leads to police time being wasted is covered.
Apprehension for the safety of any persons or property – the Act’s wording for a false report that someone or something is in danger, such as a hoax report of a missing person.

Good to know

Proceedings need the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions (s.5(3)).
More serious false reports, such as falsely accusing a named person of a crime, may amount to perverting the course of justice, a common law offence with a maximum of life imprisonment.
s.5(1) is a separate offence: accepting or agreeing to accept payment (other than reasonable compensation for loss or injury) for not disclosing information about a relevant offence.

Legislation: Criminal Law Act 1967, s.5(2) (opens legislation.gov.uk in a new tab)
Mode of trial: Summary only
Maximum penalty: 6 months' imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding level 4 (£2,500)