New non-emergency number confirmed

The Home Office has confirmed 101 as the new non-emergency for the public to contact police on community safety and anti-social behaviour issues.

The Single Non-Emergency Number is designed to improve the delivery of non-emergency services by ensuring a better co-ordinated response by local agencies, while freeing up the 999 service to handle emergency incidents.

The core 101 service will cover vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property; noisy neighbours; intimidation and harassment; abandoned vehicles; rubbish and litter, including fly-tipping; people being drunk and rowdy in public places; drug-related anti-social behaviour; and street lighting.

Operators will deal with enquiries over the phone, providing advice and information where needed, arranging for action to be taken when appropriate or by directing the caller to a person or organisation who can help them.

Calls to the 101 number will be charged at a fixed rate of ten pence per call whether from landlines or mobiles.

The new number will initially be launched in five areas, including Cardiff, Sheffield and Leicester City & Rutland County, this summer and will be rolled out across England and Wales by 2008.

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said: "In 2004, there were around 10 million calls to the 999 emergency service, around 70% of which were not emergencies. The Single Non-Emergency Number service will operate around-the-clock and put callers directly in touch with specially trained operators for information and advice on non-emergency matters.

"This will mean that 999 services can function more effectively and provide a faster response to emergency incidents."

(KMcA/GB)