A single non-emergency 101 telephone number has been introduced for police forces across England and Wales to help the public to access the police when they need them.
101 will give the public a memorable number for their local police to report crimes and concerns that do not require an emergency response. It will also help the police to deal more efficiently with calls for help from the public.
At 15p per call from both mobile phones and landlines, no matter how long the call or what time of day, the public will be spared the cost of traditional 0845 numbers previously used by many forces which can cost up to 40p per minute.
With only 25 per cent of 999 calls to the police requiring an emergency response, ministers and chief constables are confident that the 101 number will also ease pressure on 999 services.
Clwyd West MP, David Jones, said:
“It is very important that local communities are able to contact the police to report non-urgent matters, such as anti-social behaviour, to enable the police to develop effective policing strategies.
“Equally, using the 101 number for non-urgent cases will ensure that people who are trying to report the most serious matters are able to obtain police swift assistance.”
