New number for non-urgent calls

From the Salisbury Journal, first published Saturday 7th Jan 2006.

THE Wiltshire police force is ringing in the new year by asking the public to dial a new telephone number.

People should continue to call 999 if they need to contact the police in an emergency.

But from Monday, a new telephone number will go live for people wanting to contact Wiltshire police about any other, non-emergency matter.

The new number 0845 408 7000 will replace all the existing police station numbers in Wiltshire.

Calls to this number will be answered by trained police staff based at the county's police headquarters, in Devizes, and will be charged as before at a local rate.

A police spokeswoman said: "The single non-emergency number will make it easier for people to contact the police in Wiltshire for advice, information and general enquiries, or to report any non-urgent incident or crime."

Once the new number is launched on Monday, anyone using the old telephone numbers to contact their local police station will hear a recorded announcement asking them to redial using 0845 408 7000.

The force's assistant chief constable Peter Vaughan said: "The world of communications has changed dramatically in the past 40 years and it is critical that the police keep up with those changes.

"While some people do need to visit their local police to speak to an officer, many more now want alternative ways to contact the police.

"Over the years, we have introduced new mechanisms by which the public can contact us for example, via e-mail, through the website and through police posts based in the heart of the community.

"But the telephone landline or mobile remains a vital method of communication, and the new single number is part of the ongoing programme of making the police more accessible to the public.

"Having one single number will improve consistency and enhance the quality of service we can provide the people of Wiltshire."

A public awareness campaign about the new single number began this week with a series of newspaper adverts.

The campaign will include cinema advertising and the distribution of leaflets, posters and calling cards throughout the county.

Mr Vaughan added: "While we want to encourage people to use the new single number for all non-emergency enquiries, it's equally important to remember that, if people need to contact us in an emergency, they should always dial 999."

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