Malicious calls made to fire services are a major indicator of antisocial behaviour levels, say the authors of a new ‘atlas’ of Britain that shows how quality of life differs across the country .
However, Bankrupt Britain: An Atlas of Social Change, has attracted some controversy as it found that quality of life in affluent areas was declining due to factors such as crime, pollution and antisocial behaviour. In contrast, some places where people are financially worse off have been found to offer more favourable environmental conditions.
The study compiled data from a wide variety of sources and maps out how Britain’s economic and social structure has changed since 2007 and the banking crisis.
Speaking to the Guardian newspaper, author Danny Dorling said malicious calls to the fire service could root out problems in an area in ways other crimes could not.
"Malicious calls can be compared as a measure of antisocial behaviour likely to cause harm to others in a way other crimes cannot."
"By contrast, antisocial behaviour orders are issued according to the particular policies of individual local councils."
Rates of malicious fire alarms rose fastest, on a per capita basis, in Hertfordshire, Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester. They fell fastest in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Strathclyde.
"It was interesting that it was in more leafy counties where the amount of antisocial behaviour rose," Dorling said.
"Often the increase was of just a small number of calls but, set against large national falls in rates, the records of these areas does not look good."
Rates of drug-taking and bullying were also higher in leafier areas, the survey found.
"When these results are coupled together, you begin to wonder whether rural life is that idyllic for the young, where many complain of boredom," Dorling said.
Last week, London Fire Brigade launched what is believed to be the UK’s first interactive fire map, which also records levels of hoax calls in the capital.
