SCARBOROUGH Police are safeguarding a 17-year-old after a number of businesses received hoax bomb threats.

The police are investigating these incidents and currently have a 17-year-old under investigation.

Police say they are working with agencies in the are to safeguard the boy and try to prevent further incidents.

Officers ask anyone who receives a hoax bomb threat letter to report it to the police by calling 101.

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Government guidance on bomb threats say the vast majority of bomb threats are hoaxes designed to cause alarm and disruption.

The government guidance says "terrorists and others may make hoax bomb threat calls to intimidate the public, businesses and communities, to draw attention to their cause and to mislead police.

"While many bomb threats involve a person-to-person phone call, an increasing number are sent electronically using email or social media applications. 

"No matter how ridiculous or implausible the threat may seem, all such communications are a crime and should be reported to the police by dialling 999."

The government guidance continues to say that motives for hoaxes are difficult to find out, but are sometimes for revenge, extortion, a desire to impress or a combination of these.

The following are the immediate steps you can take if you follow a bomb threat according to Government guidance:

  • stay calm and listen carefully
  • have immediate access to the bomb threat checklist and the key information that should be recorded
  • if practical, keep the caller talking and alert a colleague to dial 999.
  • if displayed on your phone, note the number of the caller, otherwise, dial 1471 to obtain the number once the call has ended
  • if the threat is a recorded message, write down as much detail as possible and retain for the police to secure
  • if the threat is received via text message, do not reply to, forward or delete the message; note the number of the sender and follow police advice
  • know who to contact in your organisation upon receipt of the threat, e.g. building security/senior manager, as they will need to make an assessment of the threat