Nantwich residents can use the new non-emergency police hotline number 101 from today (November 23).
Cheshire Police, Merseyside Police and Greater Manchester Police are all switching across to ‘101’ as part of a national programme.
It’s hoped it will make it easier for people to contact police in a non-emergency.
From today, ‘101′ will replace Cheshire’s current non-emergency number 0845 4580000.
Cheshire Assistant Chief Constable Janette McCormick (pictured) said: “The introduction of 101 provides a simple, memorable number for the public to use.
“We believe it will divert some calls away from the emergency 999 system.
“We know that 69% of calls last year that came in via the 999 system did not require a grade one response – attendance at the location within 15 minutes of receiving the call.”
When a member of the public dials 101 in Cheshire they will hear a recorded message which will welcome them to 101.
They will then hear a message that informs them they are being connected to Cheshire Police.
Next they will be offered the alternative of being connected to a neighbouring force such as GMP, Merseyside, Staffordshire or North Wales.
If they do not require any of these, the message asks you to press hash to be connected to an operator.
“Calls to 101 will not change the way in which we respond to non-emergency calls,” added ACC McCormick.
“They will continue to be managed by officers and staff who work in the call handling centre for Cheshire Police.”
Calls to 101 are 15 pence flat rate, regardless of duration, time of day and type of phone.
People are reminded to call 999 in an emergency, where there is a threat to life or a crime in progress.
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