Streetlife

An easy to remember non-emergency police number is being launched in our region.
From Tuesday December 13 the public will be able to call 101 for non-emergency issues such as minor traffic collisions, criminal damage or if they want to speak to a local neighbourhood officer about an issue affecting their community.
The new number is being introduced in the Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Northumbria and North Yorkshire force areas as part of a national roll-out designed to make it easier for people to contact police.
Chief Constable Jon Stoddart said: "This is a simple number which should be easy to remember. We want people to use it when they're reporting a crime or incident, which doesn't need the 999 response.
"By using this number people will be able to contact their local officers, as well as helping to reduce the demands on the 999 system, which is for emergencies only."
The new number will replace current non-emergency numbers 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. Calls are free from public phone boxes.
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. Local councils should still be contacted on their existing phone numbers for issues such as dog fouling or litter. 

From : Durham Police Press Office