From today, West Yorkshire Police has a new contact number for you to ring when it’s not an emergency.
101 gives the public one easy way to get in touch with the police for calls that do not need an urgent response. 101 is easy to remember and easy to call.
You can call 101 to report a crime that has already happened, ask for crime prevention advice or give the police information. In an emergency always call 999.
When you call the 101 number the operator will take down information about what has happened and, if necessary, arrange an appointment for an officer to come and see you.
It is not the number to call if an emergency is happening and you need an officer to come straight away.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Milsom, in charge of the Operations Support Services Department, said: “Switching to the new non-emergency number will make West Yorkshire Police easier to remember and easier to call.
“All calls to 101 cost just 15p, even from a mobile and no matter how long it lasts for.
“101 will in no way replace the 999 emergency number but will instead complement it – one number for emergencies and one for non-emergency situations.”
As well as calling 101 or 999 the public can also contact their local Neighbourhood Policing Team, report minor crime online, visit a police station or attend a PACT meeting.
Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired people can use textphone 18001 101.
“101 is just one of the ways we are making ourselves more accessible to the public,” added ACC Milsom. “We want residents to use the new number – and to use it appropriately.”
Last year the Force answered an average of 1,221 emergency (999) calls every day – but one in 10 of these should have either gone to another organisation entirely or to the new 101 number.
Councillor Mark Burns-Williamson, Chairman of West Yorkshire Police Authority, said 101 was a significant move to making the police even more accessible.
“101 gives the public a memorable non-emergency number so they can get in touch with West Yorkshire Police,” he said. "It will make crime easier to report and help the police to tackle crime and disorder."
“In our consultation with local communities we know that many people have difficulty remembering the old 0845 number and the idea of a 3-digit code should hopefully solve this problem.”
The move to 101 has the full backing of all Forces in England and Wales and neighbouring Forces across Yorkshire and the Humber are also switching to the new national number during November and December.
If people call the old 0845 6060606 number they will hear a recorded message informing them to ring 101 in future.
If West Yorkshire residents would like their home security upgraded by CASAC then they should call 0845 519 2122 or visit www.casac.org.uk
