Police are warning that false reports of robberies, shootings and kidnappings are consuming valuable investigative resources that could be used to address genuine emergencies.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Lisborn Michael said investigators have encountered several cases in which people fabricated serious crimes to conceal their own actions or avoid problems with relatives.

During an appearance on the Browne and Browne Show, Michael recalled one case involving a young man and his girlfriend who were inside a vehicle when the man accidentally shot himself.

Instead of reporting what had happened, the man allegedly told police that he had been shot during a robbery.

The matter was investigated and subsequently placed before the court.

Michael referred to another incident in which a soldier reportedly claimed that he had been robbed. Investigators later determined that the report was false, and that matter is also before the court.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Lisborn Michael

The Assistant Commissioner said police resources were also heavily deployed on Father’s Day after receiving a report that a 17-year-old girl had been kidnapped by three men.

Investigators later learned that the teenager allegedly invented the kidnapping because she wanted to attend a party and her mother had refused to allow her to go.

Michael said reports of kidnappings, shootings and armed robberies are immediately treated as serious emergencies. They can result in officers being taken away from other investigations and deployed on searches, roadblocks and interviews.

False reports can also create unnecessary fear within the public, particularly when unverified information is circulated through social media.

Michael said people who deliberately make false reports may face criminal charges.

He urged members of the public and media organisations to avoid spreading unconfirmed information before police have had an opportunity to investigate.

The Assistant Commissioner acknowledged that the police force is not perfect, but said committed officers are working with limited resources to respond to genuine threats and keep communities safe.