A NEW non-emergency phone number has been launched today by West Mercia Police.

People can dial 101 when reporting incidents which do not require an urgent response.

It costs 15 pence to call 101 - no matter what time of the day people call or how long they stay on the phone for - and it is available 24 hours a day.

Head of Operational Support Command, Chief Supt Trevor Albutt, said: “We hope that giving the public this memorable number will make it easier for people to report crime and also ease the pressure on the 999 system.

“Every day, we receive a number of inappropriate calls on 999 which stop or delay people with real emergencies getting through to us.

“West Mercia Police aims to provide the highest levels of customer service and we hope that adopting 101 will allow us to better prioritise the most urgent calls for help.”

Examples of where 101 should be dialled instead of 999 include if a car has been stolen, a property has been damaged, where drug use or dealing is suspected and to report a minor traffic collision.

Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired can access the service via textphone on 18001 101.

Chief Supt Albutt added: “This new number is already being used by several police forces and all 43 chief constables across England and Wales have agreed to introduce 101 as the national police non-emergency number.”

He went on: “Our current number - 0300 333 3000 - will continue to operate as a general switchboard number, which should be used to speak to a particular person or department, for example, if you want to speak to your local policing team.”

In an emergency, always call 999 if there is a crime in progress, if someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened.

To find out more about 101 and when to use it visit westmercia.police.uk