Funds axed for anti-yob phone line

The manifesto promised "a single phone number staffed by police, local councils and other local services will be available across the country".

But after trialling the 24-hour 101 number in five areas, the Government decided it would not continue offering grants to local areas to run the service – although it has kept the infrastructure in place if local areas want to fund it themselves – despite the Home Office saying the pilots found "many benefits" and represented a "commitment to improving services".

Two areas – in parts of Leicestershire and the north east – ditched the number, and it was put in jeopardy in another of the pilot areas, Sheffield, despite having taken 100,000 calls in its first 18 months.

The number, designed to take the pressure off the 999 service and ensure emergencies were not being delayed by minor reports, was eventually saved when Sheffield Council found 73,000 of extra funding and the police allowed the service to continue using its facilities. The service also now operates in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and in Wales.

After the pilots, the Home Office concluded that "it is vital that Home Office resources are targeted where they will have the greatest impact and which will contribute most to the protection of the public and security of the country.

"The Home Office took the decision not to continue to directly fund the live 101 operations but to continue to provide funding for the national 101 telephony routing infrastructure.

"This funding ensures that the 101 number remains available for use by local areas wishing to maintain or develop their own locally funded service."