Hoax callers to the emergency service could be fined 600'000 Euros

Hoax calls to the 112 emergency number may result with the offender being fined up to 600,000 euros.

Sources from the Valencian regional government report that as many as 11% of all calls being made to the emergency line – 462,000 last year alone - were hoaxes.

Abusive, insulting or threatening calls will be treated in the same way as hoxes, say ministers.

Fines will range from those for 'minor offences', being up to 6,000 euros, to 'very serious offences', which attract penalties of between 150,000 and 600,000 euros.

Additional measures to help the emergency services work more efficiently could include forcing those who intentionally or negligently cause a fire to pay for the cost of rescue workers' attendance.

Other such examples, such as mountain-climbing or hiking once a red-alert has been declared over forest fires or weather conditions could lead to anyone becoming stranded having to pay for their rescue helicopters.

This could result in a charge of around 3,000 euros.