A COMMUNITY police officer in Hampstead Garden Suburb has been brought to book after making a hoax 999 call to colleagues. According to witnesses, the PCSO called a fellow officer claiming a man was stuck down a manhole and needed urgent help. But after a

A COMMUNITY police officer in Hampstead Garden Suburb has been brought to book after making a hoax 999 call to colleagues.

According to witnesses, the PCSO called a fellow officer claiming a man was stuck down a manhole and needed urgent help.

But after a patrol car raced to the scene, the officer soon realised he had been the victim of the type of prank which police are keen to clamp down on.

A Barnet Police spokesman said: "There was an incident involving a member of the Garden Suburb Safer Neighbourhoods Team on April 1. As with all such cases, appropriate formal disciplinary procedures are in place and were followed. The matter has been dealt with and we remain committed to maintaining high standards of professionalism for all officers and staff.