Hertfordshire Police Authority and the Force Communications Room marked the one-week anniversary since the launch of new non-emergency number 101.
As calls to the new service have now topped 700 and are steadily rising, Police Authority Chair David Lloyd, Superintendent Rob Henry and FCR manager Richard Wilde met to promote the new service.
Richard Wilde said: โThis new number aims to improve the non-emergency service we currently offer as it is easier to remember. From early next year it will possible to ring this same number wherever you are in England and Wales to reach your local forceโs non-emergency service.
He added: โSince 101 went live at Hertfordshire Constabulary last week, we have already seen over 700 calls made to the new number, and this number is steadily rising. This is great news and in time it will hopefully free up the 999 service for emergency calls. Previously people had phoned 999 because of the cost of the 0845 number, which for many cost them considerably more to ring, or because they couldnโt remember the full number.โ
101 replaces the current non-emergency number, 0845 33 00 222. However, the 0845 number will continue to be in place for approximately a year, running in tandem with 101 to ensure a smooth transition.
Calls to 101 are 15p for the duration of the call, whether from a landline or a mobile. Or, for those who had free calls to 0845 numbers in their service plan, landline number 01707 354000 will continue to be available and is free on many phone service plans.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, the textphone service 18001 101 is still available.
Hertfordshire Police Authority Chair David Lloyd said: โHertfordshire Police Authority is fully committed to ensuring there is effective communication between the public and police in Hertfordshire.
โMost people choose to contact the police by telephone. The introduction of the 101 non-emergency number means that when anyone has a reason to make contact with the police they will always know the number to use.
โThis project proves that it is not necessary to spend lots of extra money making improvements to services.โ
This is part of a countrywide Association of Chief Police Officers and Home Office-led initiative where all forces are due to adopt the number by early 2012, in phases. Herts Police is in the first phase of forces to adopt 101, along with the Metropolitan Police, Essex Police and the City of London Police.
