New police number aims to improve community contact

The new police number, 101, was activated yesterday, with residents now able to call it for non-emergency issues such as minor traffic collisions, criminal damage or if they want to speak to a local neighbourhood officer or police community support officer about an issue affecting their community.

It is being introduced in the North Yorkshire, Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham and Northumbria force areas as part of a national roll-out designed to make it easier for people to contact the police and has already been put in place elsewhere in the region.

The new number will replace the current North Yorkshire non-emergency number, 0845 60 60 24 7, but calls will still be answered in the same force control room in York by the same police personnel.

Deputy Chief Constable Tim Madgwick, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “101 is a memorable number which will make it easier for people to report non-emergency crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as contacting the local Safer Neighbourhood Team.

“It is designed to make the police even more accessible to our communities while at the same time reducing pressure on the 999 system, meaning every caller receives the best possible service.”

Each call made to the 101 number will cost 15p no matter what time of day it is or how long the call lasts.

Police have stressed that people should continue to call 999 in an emergency – when a crime is in progress, there is danger to life or violence is being used or threatened.

Local councils should also still be contacted on their existing phone numbers for issues such as dog fouling or litter.

More than 15,000 calls have been made to South Yorkshire Police’s new non-emergency number since its introduction a month ago.