Reports that a 10-year-old child hadn’t resurfaced after diving into a river at Wellington sent emergency services into a frenzy on Monday afternoon.

Five police vehicles responded to the incident reported at 3.45pm, but it was later established the report was made by a hoax caller.

The hoax call was the second of its nature on Monday, according to Inspector Dan Skelly of the Orana Mid-Western Police District, who linked the call to another made at 9.30am that morning. Both calls shared the same address and were made via a sim-less mobile phone.

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Police believe the report was made by a young female, adding the nature of calls were considered “serious” and required an immediate and significant police response.

“The safety of police and the public is risked to a certain extent by attending those jobs,” Inspector Skelly said.

“When it turns out to be a hoax it’s an unnecessary risk to both police and the public, and obviously a significant waste of time.

“People should know this is occurring, they should know the risk of us getting there in a hurry and why we do it, considering a 10-year-old child had dived into the river and hadn’t resurfaced. 

“That always raises the hairs on your neck, it's definitely not a joke.”

Inspector Skelly acknowledged the ignorance of hoax callers in not taking these facts into account, rather treating it as a joke. 

“They think it’s all a bit of fun, a bit of a joke seeing emergency services turn up in a hurry,” he said. 

“We have to drive fast, it puts us and the general public at risk – an acceptable risk if for instance that job was real.

“I want people to think about the stupidity and amount of risk they put on emergency services and the public too.”

Technology capable of tracing calls under certain circumstances will be used by police to follow these cases up rigorously.

Charges can include causing a public nuisance, and contacting an emergency service under false pretenses.

“Both are matters put before a magistrate, both involve heavy fines and in very aggravated cases can involve a term of imprisonment,” Inspector Skelly said.

“We will charge them with the appropriate offences.”