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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Police expand 101 non-urgent line | Police expand 101 non-urgent line |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| A non-emergency police phone line aimed at easing the pressure on 999 calls is to be rolled out across Wales. | A non-emergency police phone line aimed at easing the pressure on 999 calls is to be rolled out across Wales. |
| The 101 service has been trialled in Cardiff since 2006, where it responds to low-level incidents such as noise disruption and nuisance behaviour. | The 101 service has been trialled in Cardiff since 2006, where it responds to low-level incidents such as noise disruption and nuisance behaviour. |
| Now, the four Welsh police forces are to run the 101 Cymru service. | Now, the four Welsh police forces are to run the 101 Cymru service. |
| It is hoped the alternative number will free up the 999 service to deal with more serious incidents but critics say they would prefer more beat officers. | It is hoped the alternative number will free up the 999 service to deal with more serious incidents but critics say they would prefer more beat officers. |
| The 101 service is a confidential 24-hour number giving direct access to advice, information and action for community safety matters, including certain non-emergency crime, policing and anti-social behaviour. | The 101 service is a confidential 24-hour number giving direct access to advice, information and action for community safety matters, including certain non-emergency crime, policing and anti-social behaviour. |
| The Cardiff number has been run as a joint initiative between the police and councils, and has also dealt with complaints such as fly-tipping, graffiti and vandalism. | The Cardiff number has been run as a joint initiative between the police and councils, and has also dealt with complaints such as fly-tipping, graffiti and vandalism. |
| A Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) spokesperson said that while the all-Wales 101 number would be run by the four police authorities and forces, they will be "exploring opportunities for future partnership working with local authorities". | A Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) spokesperson said that while the all-Wales 101 number would be run by the four police authorities and forces, they will be "exploring opportunities for future partnership working with local authorities". |
| Why spend all that money on that when you could put more police on the beat? June Johnson, chair of a residents association | Why spend all that money on that when you could put more police on the beat? June Johnson, chair of a residents association |
| When the 101 service was launched in Cardiff, police figures showed only 20% of 999 calls made to South Wales police were classed as emergencies. | When the 101 service was launched in Cardiff, police figures showed only 20% of 999 calls made to South Wales police were classed as emergencies. |
| The force said that by relieving pressure on the 999 system, it was able to redeploy 25 extra officers to neighbourhood policing in the capital. | The force said that by relieving pressure on the 999 system, it was able to redeploy 25 extra officers to neighbourhood policing in the capital. |
| However, June Johnson, chair of Bayside Tenants and Residents Association in Splott, Cardiff, said she believed the money spent on 101 could be better used elsewhere. | However, June Johnson, chair of Bayside Tenants and Residents Association in Splott, Cardiff, said she believed the money spent on 101 could be better used elsewhere. |
| "I'm not a supporter of 101 and quite a few people on Bayside are not supporters of 101, talking about it in the community. Why spend all that money on that when you could put more police on the beat?" she said. | "I'm not a supporter of 101 and quite a few people on Bayside are not supporters of 101, talking about it in the community. Why spend all that money on that when you could put more police on the beat?" she said. |
| "I have used 101, mainly to log complaints about anti-social behaviour, which we are told to do. | "I have used 101, mainly to log complaints about anti-social behaviour, which we are told to do. |
| "But personally, I would prefer to get through to a police station or a police officer directly who knows the area. | "But personally, I would prefer to get through to a police station or a police officer directly who knows the area. |
| "When you ring 101 they classify your emergency into different categories, which can then be dealt with in an hour or days. | "When you ring 101 they classify your emergency into different categories, which can then be dealt with in an hour or days. |
| "But what might not be urgent to them, can be to someone who is suffering from anti-social behaviour. | "But what might not be urgent to them, can be to someone who is suffering from anti-social behaviour. |
| "Some people I know haven't had a response at all and other people have had a response to a less urgent matter within an hour. It's madness." | "Some people I know haven't had a response at all and other people have had a response to a less urgent matter within an hour. It's madness." |
| Funding withdrawn | Funding withdrawn |
| The Home Office initially piloted the 101 scheme in five areas in the UK, including Cardiff. | The Home Office initially piloted the 101 scheme in five areas in the UK, including Cardiff. |
| However, it withdrew funding in 2008 following criticism that the number had not cut-down calls to 999. | However, it withdrew funding in 2008 following criticism that the number had not cut-down calls to 999. |
| The service was saved after local councils and police forces stepped in to run it. | The service was saved after local councils and police forces stepped in to run it. |
| The Home Office said it is not funding the all-Wales number and said the running costs were likely to come from each force's budget. | The Home Office said it is not funding the all-Wales number and said the running costs were likely to come from each force's budget. |
| Have you used the 101 service during the trial in Cardiff? Has it been useful? Tell us your experiences and we will publish a selection of your comments. | Have you used the 101 service during the trial in Cardiff? Has it been useful? Tell us your experiences and we will publish a selection of your comments. |
| I think it's useful to have an alternative number to 999 for issues which aren't so urgent, but it's still not going to improve police response times. From an experience from calling 101, I wasn't very satisfied, it seemed like I was just being fobbed off. As it turned out the police finally turned up and the youths causing havoc for over 3 hours were arrested.Rich, Barry | |
| One number for non-emergency incidents is better than rooting around in the telephone directory for your local police station.Richard, Neath | One number for non-emergency incidents is better than rooting around in the telephone directory for your local police station.Richard, Neath |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |