Fines for false fire alarms that cost £37m

Hospitals and universities face fees of more than £1 million a year under plans to punish organisations that fail to stop repeated false fire alarms.

London Fire Brigade today warned that persistent offenders would pay a £290 levy for each fire engine called out after the first 10 calls in a year.

There were 40,839 false alarms in London last year, with almost 28,000 at commercial or public buildings and 1,189 at hospitals. St George’s in Tooting was the worst, with 169.

The brigade said the calls — one every 12 minutes — affect its ability to attend real problems, and estimates the disruption costs £37 million a year.

The move to force organisations to take responsibility for fire safety comes amid fears that 17 of London’s 113 fire stations and 600 jobs will be cut to save £65 million over two years.