A new non-emergency telephone number - 101 - was launched yesterday as an alternative to 999, with a claim that the caller can expect action on anti-social behaviour problems.
The scheme has twin aims: to take the pressure off the 999 system, where around 70 per cent of calls are non-emergencies, and to ensure that police and local authorities offer a more efficient response to calls for help from the public.
The Home Office insisted yesterday that the system would not underrate the seriousness of some crimes, after conceding that one internal document had referred to "people dealing drugs" as an issue that should be raised with the non-emergency number.
A Home Office release yesterday said noisy neighbours, rowdy drunks, "intimidation and harassment" and "drug-related anti-social behaviour" were other potential 101 subjects.
However, a spokesman said anyone who witnessed a crime, or felt unsafe, should ring 999. If a problem was chronic in a local area, but did not pose an immediate threat of harm, the public should ring 101. The spokesman drew a distinction between finding drug needles close to a school and wanting long-term action for an anti-social problem, a 101 matter, and witnessing the sale of drugs, which would be a 999 call.
In theory, 101 operators will offer expert local advice on issues ranging from lost dogs to persistently rowdy pubs. 101 calls will cost 10p per call, unlike 999 calls, which are free.
3 comments:
in america we have 911..for emergence's..which i always thought was a dumb number...why not 111 or 222 or 333 a triplicate of one number..make it easier to dial...but we have always needed another set of numbers for non threatning events...about time..you guys are ahead of us in sooooo many ways..except for mexicans..
Yeah, throw another number in there lets confuse the masses. How many people do you estimate will use the new number? Waste of money and time IMHO. Idiots will always use the Emergency # for non Emergencies regardless of the digits to dial.
666 the number of the beast would be more apt JS.
They had this on the BBC news last night Debbie,there was a recording of some old lady ringing 999 because she'd lost her spectacles and couldn't see the recipe book to make dinner.... some people are just dumb, I doubt it won't make much difference as to what the # is
Post a Comment