A Portslade woman has been sentenced after making an extensive series of abusive and hoax calls to Sussex Police and other emergency services, wasting valuable time and resources.
Suzanne Forster, 51, of Warrior Close, was found guilty of sending offensive and abusive communications after making 303 calls to police between December 2023 and May 2024. The calls, which included verbal abuse of staff and the reporting of hoax crimes, significantly disrupted emergency services over a six-month period.
Sentence and Penalties
Forster appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on January 3, where she pleaded guilty to the charges. She was handed a 10-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to undertake 18 rehabilitation activities. Additionally, Forster must adhere to an Alcohol Abstinence and Monitoring Requirement (AAMR) and pay a fine of £239.
This is not Forster’s first offense of this nature, as she had previously been given Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) for similar actions.
Investigation and Prosecution
Forster was initially interviewed under caution on May 22, 2024, during which she denied any knowledge of the calls. Following further investigation, charges for sending public communications of an offensive, obscene, or menacing nature were authorized on November 11. Forster appeared in court on November 21, where she was bailed with strict conditions ahead of her sentencing.
Police Condemn Abusive Behavior
Sussex Police emphasised the serious impact of such behavior on emergency services and their ability to assist those in genuine need.
Sarah-Louise Gliddon, force lead for such cases, stated: “Unnecessary and inappropriate use of the Sussex Police contact numbers results in the police being tied up on a call and prevents call handlers from dealing with genuine emergencies and giving assistance to those who require support from the police.”
Gliddon also highlighted the verbal abuse endured by staff, adding: “Although they deal with challenging situations on a daily basis, they should not have to endure being treated in this way. We treat the verbal abuse of our staff extremely seriously, and those found to be causing harm will be thoroughly investigated, with appropriate action taken.”
Impact on Emergency Services
The persistent misuse of emergency numbers not only caused distress to police staff but also jeopardized the ability of call handlers to assist individuals in urgent situations. Sussex Police reiterated their commitment to holding offenders accountable to maintain the integrity of their emergency response services.
