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Police Roll Out 101 Number For Non-Emergency Calls

Police Box Dial 101

First Posted: 11/01/12 07:11 GMT Updated: 11/01/12 07:11 GMT   PA

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The non-emergency 101 number for police has been rolled out to all forces across England and Wales as an alternative to 999.

Policing Minister Nick Herbert said the move was one of the most significant changes in the way people contact the police since 999 was brought in nearly 70 years ago.

Designed for crimes and concerns that do not require an emergency response, the 101 number has already received 2.5 million calls while it has been being phased in.

Only one in four calls to 999 require an emergency response and the new number is expected to ease pressure on 999 call handlers, enabling police to respond to genuine emergencies more effectively.

Commander Ian Dyson, of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said: "Having just two phone numbers - 101 for reporting a crime that has happened, to get advice or to raise local policing issues - or 999 if it's an emergency, makes calling the police a lot easier and makes our services more accessible.

"999 should only be used in an emergency, that is when a crime is happening, when someone suspected of a crime is nearby, or where someone is injured, being threatened or in danger.

"For all other matters the public should call us on 101."

Calls to 101 cost 15p from both mobile phones and landlines, regardless of how long the call is or when it is made.

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The non-emergency 101 number for police has been rolled out to all forces across England and Wales as an alternative to 999. Policing Minister Nick Herbert said the move was one of the most signifi...
The non-emergency 101 number for police has been rolled out to all forces across England and Wales as an alternative to 999. Policing Minister Nick Herbert said the move was one of the most signifi...
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Kris5
34 Fans
11:31 AM on 01/11/2012
Charging people to call the Police is not a good idea. I think even more crimes will go unrecorded than there already are. The only people who are likely to be pleased with the idea of paying to phone the Police are the criminals. It beats me how people in positions of power and authority come up with such an idea. Perhaps they are worried about rising crime statistics and are therefore trying to put people off phoning the police?
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cymrox
1 Fans
12:20 PM on 01/11/2012
You're getting worked up about 15p?
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Kris5
34 Fans
12:34 PM on 01/11/2012
Paying 15 pence is no problem for me personally. However, people on a very tight budget might well ask why should they have to pay when we are already paying for a police service through our taxes. This 101 number is likely to receive many thousands of calls every week - it is a revenue raising scheme. Also, if the problem being reported to the police is an ongoing/re-occurring problem - then people may well have to telephone the police again and again. E.g. Youths behaving badly in the neighbourhood - it is the type of problem which causes a lot of trouble for residents, yet the type of problem that the police would prefer not to have to deal with - hence if they charge 15p for each call - it might mean less work and form filling for the police.
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butterfly123
38 Fans
11:30 AM on 01/11/2012
We've had the 101 number for a couple of months and it works very well, glad its gone around the country. 999 calls are for emergency calls and the 101 is for non emergency calls.
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Man0Bear0Pig
1 Fans
11:20 AM on 01/11/2012
This 101 phone number is a Trojan horse so the powers that be can claim it does not work and to say that the 999 calls is now discredited so we will comply with the European style numbers 110 for fire, 112 for police and 113 for ambulance. Though this might be to many numbers for the dumb down populace to remember lets give them one number they can remember 112.
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BuxtonBlueCat
Most beautiful cat in the world! :)
40 Fans
 
10:48 AM on 01/11/2012
'enabling police to respond to genuine emergencies more effectively.' I do enjoy a good laugh; best joke ever! An emergency, is an emergency. Those who abuse 999 by silly comments should be charged a set fine. Regarding paying 15p to dial the police - you can forget this one. The system has worked for years, why change what isn't broken?
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red0pill0matrix
24 Fans
10:34 AM on 01/11/2012
101 will be the new number you can report your neighbour on and be charge for the privilege. Another revenue generating scheme. Why not improve and advertise the powers of Citizens arrest to deal with this. I get it now call 101 and you get a Community police officer appearing to revenue generate, call 999 to have a real crime reported
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nobbyc
0 Fans
10:21 AM on 01/11/2012
what is this country coming to 999 is a free number 101 will charge you 15p for do this goverment not reliese that poeple are just going to ring 999 and say im not paying to phone the police
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paulherrits
1 Fans
09:55 AM on 01/11/2012
Make the Crime Stoppers number simple to remember and don't charge the public for being public spirited, these calls can take a long time it shouldn't be a case of rushing to explain so as to save money I'm simply a ordinary man in the street who wants better communication between the public and the Police we know this all makes sense.
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sazmobooks
4 Fans
11:45 AM on 01/11/2012
It only costs 15p irrelevant of how long the call lasts....
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welshtaff
22 Fans
09:35 AM on 01/11/2012
WHY NOT GIVE US THE LOCAL NUMBER TO THE POLICE STATIONS, THAT WAY IT WOULD EITHER COST NOTHING OR VERY LITTLE
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ostridge
0 Fans
11:41 AM on 06/22/2012
I use an internet telephone service so normal calls cost very little, however I don't see any information as to whether the 101 is provided as part of the service.
To get round this I use a dialing plan to divert 101 calls to the local police headquarters number, at very little cost.
I don't know whether this gives a less efficient call to police but as 101 is for non emergency, the call going thro police switchboard is not really a problem.
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lilizela
3 Fans
09:17 AM on 01/11/2012
Er... the 101 number has been available in certain areas for years now. Is it now being rolled out nationally or (gasp!) is this old news?
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MummyLois
0 Fans
09:14 AM on 01/11/2012
THIS NUMBER ISN'T FREE LIKE THE 999 everytime you ring 101 you are charged 15p/minute as it is attached to an 0844 number! Guess they have to make money from somewhere; so why not charge the public for non-emergency calls!!!!
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stevebroad
7 Fans
09:33 AM on 01/11/2012
The article states 15p, regardless of length of the call, or is this incorrect?
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MummyLois
0 Fans
09:41 AM on 01/11/2012
I was charged more than 15p for the call, in fact it was DEFINITELY 15p/minute
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chrisctpaul
Things can only get better
17 Fans
09:04 AM on 01/11/2012
In my experience I have found the Police to be very good. Last time I had to call them to a maniac wielding a blade near our property. In fairness the Police arrived in 10 minutes, they apologised for the delay, due to needing armed officers.

But was very fast considering 4 specialist officers were on site, plus a helicopter and a dog unit, all in 10-15 mins.
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meddleman
57 Fans
08:37 AM on 01/11/2012
Youi might get through but the police will be most reluctant to officially record the crime. Our crime figures are a gross distortion of the truth. No one wants to admit the true numbers of crimes in this country.
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Pounce the Cat
25 Fans
08:31 AM on 01/11/2012
Hang on 999 calls are free. 101 calls cost 15p, where does that money go? I get the impression that like speed cameras this is just a ploy to milk people for money. I mean the news is replete with stories where after ringing 999 the emergency services took hours to attend, unless of course you mention that you've made a citizens arrest of the man who broke into your house, stabbed your son, raped your daughter and set the kitchen on fire. Then the polcie will be round in a flash in which to ensure that that the poor fellow is given all the help needed in which to be able to sue the pants off the victim.
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chrisctpaul
Things can only get better
17 Fans
09:12 AM on 01/11/2012
Its the same as any service, sometimes they can get busy. Unfortunately its impossible to plan for a busy day, nobody can see into the future to see how busy the next day is going to be.

Half the problems with the 999 service is that people request services when there isn't an emergency. We have a neighbour who calls the Police regularly on the 999 service because of the youths drinking in the local park. OK the youths are sometimes a little noisy, but they don't damage anything or insult anyone, so why call the Police in the first place?
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rrichpigg
8 Fans
08:29 AM on 01/11/2012
Yes mokgee, I to remember the BOBBY on the BEAT. Morris Minor Panda Car and those strange looking motor bikes. Now we watch them on TV trying to sort out what the Parents are unable to do, due to the LAW. My mums dad used to have a LARGE BLACK LEATHER belt that he ONLY had to start to undo from around his waist to get them to do what he requested, To Behave in a proper manner. The young adults of today have total disregard for the need to behave in a correct manner. I had the STICK twice at school and one teacher had the dreaded size 12 PLIMSOL( Trainer to the young of today)stored in a wire cage, on show in the top right hand compartment which I see used on my school mates a few times. That TEACHER hand FULL control of his CLASS. DID NOT DO ME ANY HARM.
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Captain Booyah
2 Fans
11:16 AM on 01/11/2012
YOU may have A PROBLEM with your CAPS LOCK KEY.
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butterfly123
38 Fans
11:34 AM on 01/11/2012
Never did most of us any harm, at least we knew how to behave.
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mokgee
Sabu.Satsang, Samsara, Solitude...
127 Fans
07:48 AM on 01/11/2012
The old Blue lamp, when coppers walked on foot around neighbourhoods, every now and then, one would see the copper calling in at one of these police boxes. As kids, even if we had done nothing wrong, we still avoided the copper, who was usually well over 6 foot, monsters they were. Nowadays, we don't see coppers, only in centrally heated cars going somewhere else other than criminal activities, plus many of them look like schoolkids. Having said that, in their defence, they are getting no backing from the courts or politicians, and in addition the country is swarming with immigrants from all over the globe. Now how can anyone police that lot, now you know the facts politicians, resolve the major problems you have ALL created...
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roseandpeony
47 Fans
08:37 AM on 01/11/2012
We do see the local Bobby on the beat in our neighbourhood, sometimes two! Parks his car, wanders around the park where the youth hang about, checks the laneways and twittens. When I did phone because gypsies had been prowling around my garden in daylight, police turned up in 15 minutes, and then apprehended suspect. I have no complaints about the policing in our neighbourhood.
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mokgee
Sabu.Satsang, Samsara, Solitude...
127 Fans
09:00 AM on 01/11/2012
Encouraging news, roseandpeony, is always good to hear for a change. Where you live sounds like some sleepy backwater village, something we would all love. However, I can tell you this is not the story in our towns and cities, which has become some kind of free for all do as you like situation. Envious with your situation, absolutely we are, this is how Britain, used to be at one time, not any more sadly..Good reply thanks.....
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