From tomorrow no member of the public should have to pay
for 101 non-emergency calls to the police.
Currently callers to the 101 number are connected to their
local police force, or a force of their choice, and charged
15p a time.
The vast majority of people will be able to use the service
free of charge from tomorrow. However, from 1 April to 1
July there remains a chance that users of small operators
will be charged for using the 101 service. The Home Office
will be urging those providers to refund their customers.
In May last year the Home Office announced it will invest
£7 million a year to make the service free, which receives
around 30 million calls annually.
The Home Office have also worked with the police to ensure
that everyone in England and Wales can report crime online
free of charge.
There are 20 forces currently using the Single Online Home.
This is a web platform that hosts the website of each
force, enabling them to provide a free non-emergency crime
reporting service online. The Single Online Home currently
reaches more than half of the population of England and
Wales.
Forces that are not currently on this platform also provide
online forms or alternative online channels for reporting
non-urgent crime, which are processed in the same way as a
call.
The Home Office also continues to provide funding to forces
for a new Police.uk website, which once launched, will
provide a single point of access to police information and
services, including online reporting.
The 101 service was launched nationally in December 2011,
providing an accessible number for non-emergency contact
with the police.
The service should be used when an emergency response is
not required. For example:
- if your car has been stolen
- if your property has been damaged
- if you suspect drug use or dealing in your
neighbourhood
- to give the police information about crime in your area
- to speak to the police about a general enquiry
Members of the public should continue to call the free 999
service for emergencies.
