New police non-emergency number launched.
An easy to remember non-emergency police 
number is being
launched across our region.
From Tuesday 13 December the public will be able to dial 101 to report non-emergency issues to police such as minor traffic collisions, criminal damage, or if they want to speal to a local neighbourhood officer about an issue affecting their community.
The new number is being introduced in the Cumbria, Cleveland,
Durham, Northumbria and North Yorkshire force areas as part of a national roll-out in England and Wales designed to make it easier for people to contact police.
Assistant Chief Constable Michelle Skeer said: "This simple number gives people one easy way to contact their local officers and to report crime and disorder that doesn't require an emergency response.
"It will make us more accessible to our communities while reducing pressure on the 999 system, meaning every caller received the best possible service."
The new number will replace Cumbria Constabulary's current non-emergency number, 0845 3300 247, but calls will still be answered in the same police communications centres by the same police personnel.
When calling 101, the system will determine the caller's location and play a recorded message announcing the police force they're being connected to. If they are on a boundary between two or more forces, the recorded message will give them a choice of which force to be connected to.
Calls to 101 will cost 15p per call, no matter what time of day it is, or how long the call lasts. This means everyone calling the police will know exactly how much a call will cost them, whether they're calling from a landline or a mobile phone.
Senior police officers from each of the Constabularies participating in the roll out attended an official launch that took place in Durham Constabulary this morning 13 December. All of the officers based themselves in the Force's control room and were present when the first calls came through from the new '101' number.
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.
101 is not available in Scotland.
