FIFE'S Fire and Rescue Service has fielded a total of 140 malicious calls in the last four years.

The figures have been revealed by Mid Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser and Fife councillor Andy Heer after a Freedom of Information Request.

The calls were made in Fife between April 2017 and May this year.

Even during the pandemic,34 malicious phone calls were made.

Mr Fraser described the figures as "concerning".

He said: "They demonstrate there are some people who are willing to cause problems to our fire service – often resulting in diverting firefighters away from real emergencies.

“This kind of behaviour needs to be clamped down on. The fire service carry out a vital, often dangerous job – they don’t need to put up with this kind of nonsense.”

Cllr Heer, who represents the Howe of Fife and Tay Coast ward, added: “The reduction in malicious calls from 85 in the two- year period 2017-2019 to 65 in the period 2019-2021 is to be welcomed, but it is still 65 too many.

“Malicious calls cause a waste of resources, are a source of frustration to firefighters and pose a potential risk to life when the response to a genuine call may be delayed."

Commenting on the concerns, Mark Bryce, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Local Senior Officer for Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Fire, said: “Whilst the service has plans and procedures in place to ensure that our communities are protected at all times, every second counts in an emergency and when firefighters have to attend hoax calls, there is the chance they could be taken away from incidents where lives are at risk.

“Making a malicious call to the emergency services is a criminal offence and we will always work with our partners at Police Scotland to identify those responsible.”