Detective Inspector David Murphy, from Thorpe Wood police station, said: “I will warn again that false allegations waste public money, and those who make them will be charged and brought before the courts. If convicted, the maximum penalty is six months in jail and/or a fine of up to £2,500.”
He added Operation Outrage had been a success, but time-wasters were hindering other investigations. He said: “Officers are successfully investigating and detaining offenders for genuine robberies and thefts in the city, and anyone who fabricates an allegation is directly disrupting work on other, genuine, crimes.”
However, Insp Murphy added: “This should not deter genuine victims from coming forward and reporting crimes which have taken place.”