9 replies to this topic

[Matthew (Admin/MPJ)]

ThamesValleygoes live with 101

Thames Valley Police is due to go live with 101, the new national single non-emergency number on 14 November 2011, which will replace the 0845 8 505 505 number. Both numbers will run side by side until the end of March, but if demand for the 0845 8 505 505 number drops it may be discontinued earlier.

Calls to 101 (from both landlines and mobile networks) cost 15 pence per call, no matter what time of day the call is made, or the duration of the call.

Everyone calling the police for non-emergency matters will now know exactly how much a call will cost them, and can be assured of equal access whether they are on a pay-as-you-go mobile or a home landline

The routing will be based on the same system as 999 calls. If a caller is using a landline the routing will be based on the caller’s postcode and the call will be directed to the same area’s force. If a caller is using a mobile, the call will route using the mast that the phone is transmitting from.

If a call is made to 101 within a force area that has not yet ‘gone live’, the caller will hear a recorded message telling them to redial using the relevant non emergency number.

[PeterC]

Long overdue.
If your car was broken in to at a random motorway services would you always know which of the 39 non emergency numbers to call?

[Fran]

An excellent idea. I wonder if it will get enough publicity for most people to become aware of it and remember it, and if so, whether it will educe the number of inappropriate calls to 999, which is presumably the main intention.

[jkracing]

What happens if I Want to call another force?

[PeterC]

What happens if I Want to call another force?

The 101 number supposedly detects where you are calling from. If the local force doesn't participate in the service you will be given a recorded announcement with the appropriate number. There will probably be anomalies when using a mobile phone close to a force boundary.

Of course where it falls down (as does the 999 service) is that it won't recognise a need to call a non territorial force such as BTP. Also if you want, for example, to call Hertfordshire Constabulary once you are home to report that your car was vandalised in Ricky then you will have to resort to Directory Enquiries.

[jkracing]

Its a shame they couldnt make it a free number, i think it would put some people off

[Fran]

Its a shame they couldnt make it a free number, i think it would put some people off

Do you think 15p - regardless of the time of day or length of call - is really enough to put anyone off, with the possible exception of young pranksters (who they would want to discourage anyway)?

[jkracing]

yeh i think it would put some (a small number) people off reporting something that wont effect them so much, say someone acting dodgy in another street (not the one they live on) some people might think why should i waste my money for something that wont effect themselves. I know this is a very very small number of people but that one call could be vital.

Youd be surprised the lengths people go to making a free phone call, which wouldnt cost much in the first place, there's all sorts of cheats/low rates blogs/forums etc..

[PaulEden]

101 number now live

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16495623

[PeterC]

List of all police non emergency numbers. in Engand and Wales.

Handy if you need to report something to a non-local force.

[Pedant]
Of course the press release is incorrect, it isn't a national number. Scotland and Northern Ireland forces are not included.
[/Pedant]