Police ring up a new 101 number

GREATER Manchester Police (GMP) has launched a new non-emergency police telephone number — but callers will be charged.

The introduction of 101 is part of a national programme to make it easier for the public in England and Wales to contact police in a non-emergency, where an immediate police response is not required.

For the first time there will also be a single flat-rate charge of 15p, regardless of the length of call, time of day, or whether the call is from a landline or mobile phone.

GMP will be joined by the Cheshire and Merseyside forces in switching to 101 today, with the new number replacing the current GMP non-emergency number — 0161-872 5050.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: “This is one of the biggest changes in the way people can contact the police since 999 was introduced in the 1940s.

“Having just two phone numbers — 101 for reporting a crime that has happened, getting advice or raising local policing issues, or 999 if it is an emergency — makes calling your local force a lot easier.

“More than three-quarters of calls to 999 are for non-emergency incidents. Calls to 101 will not change the way in which non-emergency calls are responded to as they will continue to be managed by GMP operators. Operators can put calls through to the relevant force if it is about something that has happened in a different force area.

The 101 number will be fully introduced across England and Wales by December.