THE ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE is intensifying its efforts to apprehend prank callers.

In a Press release yesterday the force noted an increase in the number of bomb threats made to Government departments, private businesses and schools which had been "causing disruption in these affected entities and engendering fear in the occupants of these buildings".

As such, the police will continue to have dialogue with public and private sector agencies to minimise the calls and identify and apprehend the people responsible for them.

"The Royal Barbados Police Force wishes to indicate to the public that Section 81 (1) of the Telecommunications Act, Chapter 282B of the Laws of Barbados states that:

"A person who sends or publishes by means of a telecommunication network an annoying, offensive, threatening, obscene or abusive message to another person commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $10 000 or to imprisonment for a term of 12 months."

The police are also appealing to the public to immediately report to the nearest police station any information about anyone responsible for making these types of calls. (PR/CA)