Devon and Cornwall police are now available on 101 for non urgent calls instead of 08452 777444

DEVON and Cornwall Police have a snappy new telephone number for non emergency calls – 101.

Introduced from today (Monday) it replaces the old 08452 777444.

People can now dial 101 to report a non-urgent crime, request crime prevention advice or contacting local officers about policing issues within their community.

Officers stress that the change does not affect the way the force responds to non-urgent calls which will still be received by call handlers in local control rooms.

The introduction of 101 is part of a national programme to make it easier for members of the public to contact their local police.

it will be standard across the whole of England and Wales by January 2012.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton said: “The introduction of the 101 number will help communities to keep their neighbourhoods safe by giving them one easy way to speak directly to their local police for all non-urgent police-related issues.

“Members of the public will find it simple to contact us - 101 is easily remembered, will be used across the country, and I believe that, together with all the other ways people can contact us, 101 will help us provide a better service to our communities.”

When a member of the public calls 101, the system determines their location and connects them to the police force in their area. If a caller is located on a boundary between two or more forces, they are given a choice of which one to speak to.

A caller will eventually be able to dial 101 from anywhere in the UK and still have the option to speak to Devon and Cornwall Police or any force.

It does not replace 999, which should be used for emergencies - when a crime is in progress, when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened.

Calls to 101 cost 15p per call, irrespective of how long that call may last and applies to landlines and mobile phones.

People who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired can Textphone 18001 101.

Devon and Cornwall Police can also be contacted by email at: 101@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk