A massive police callout in South Otago sparked by a hoax 111 call is estimated to have cost $10,000.
At 11.30pm on Friday the police communications centre received a call from a woman who claimed to have witnessed two young children being assaulted by their parents earlier that evening.
Acting Sergeant Craig Dinnissen, of Balclutha, said the woman also alleged there were alcohol, drugs, and an unsecured firearm at an Inch Clutha property, near Balclutha, before hanging up.
The subsequent response from police and emergency services was estimated to cost $10,000, he said.
Balclutha police would charge the 34-year-old woman with making a false statement and were considering seeking reparation. Some previous cases had seen charges of $67 per hour, per person, he said.
The call prompted the Dunedin armed offenders squad, the police negotiation team, two dog units, and five police staff from Balclutha, Clinton and Milton to attend the incident, along with two ambulance staff and a Child Youth and Family worker.
Five hours later, it was revealed the call - made by an unemployed Wanaka woman from a landline phone - was malicious.
