Yesterday on local television (Eastern Region) the Essex Police were appealing for information on a crime and asking viewers to contact their Chemsford Station. The number to ring was an 0870 which I find unacceptable when asking the Public to respond at their expense to a non geographical number. Whilst one does not expect to see 0800 number, at least publish a local geographical number as most responses are likely to be  local. If this trend is used by other emergency services  then this might signal  disappearence of all geographical numbers other than private phones.

Baz

Devon and Cornwall police also use non geo numbers.

About 6 months ago, they even did a news article about changing from 0870 to 0845 for general enquiries and non urgent crimes etc.

They also stated that the move will cost them lost revenue, but this has been taken account in their budget, as they want to be more "approachable"

This may sound old fashioned, but I remember the good old days of policing, when you could call your local station, on their geographic number.  Now that's what I call approachable.

For those who will phone in, it looks like you'll be "charged" for giving information, without even being under arrest!!

wrote on Oct 19^th, 2004 at 6:44pm:

Yesterday on local television (Eastern Region) the Essex Police were appealing for information on a crime and asking viewers to contact their Chemsford Station. The number to ring was an 0870 which I find unacceptable when asking the Public to respond at their expense to a non geographical number. Whilst one does not expect to see 0800 number, at least publish a local geographical number as most responses are likely to be  local. If this trend is used by other emergency services  then this might signal  disappearence of all geographical numbers other than private phones. Baz

It'll just result in more people using 999 for non-emergency calls.  

For some reason, the expression "Hoist by their own petard" springs to mind.

At the moment, all Essex Police geographical telephone numbers are shown on their website (the number for Chelmsford is 01245 491212).

I know the West Yorkshire use 0845, an alternative is listed on this site. It seems North Yorkshire have adopted 0845 60 60 24 7. An international alternative is shown, which I've added to the database.  :)

A number of years ago South Yorkshire Police starting using 0114 2 20 20 20 and they're still using it.

You can find your local police force online at http://www.police.uk/.

Baz,

That of course was exactly BT's objective in commencing this scam. If you look at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/ind_groups/ind_groups/telecommunications/nts_focus/notes/nts20040603
{NTS focus group meeting notes and action page (03/06/04)} you will note that BT actually admitted here that "...BT wasn’t wishing to jeopardise the future of the UK NTS market as this accounted for between a quarter and one third of switched revenues for BT." They have achieved this market share already. If they can get away with it without the Competition Commission taking any action, their objective is clearly to get all companies and organisations to change over to using NGNs (other than 09) entirely, so as to reduce competition.

As you observe, the only users of geographic numbers left then will be private individuals.

In Herts all published staion numbers are routed to HQ switchboard. Herts have also addopted an 0845 non emergency contact number, citing ease of use????
and only one number to remember, convienently forgetting that all published numbers are already routed to the same switchboard.

Exactly. Telephoning Cheshire Police recently I used the local station's local 0151 number from my mobile (to report an abandoned car) and waited twenty minutes after being answered. When they could not find the location and decided that it was in North Wales (it was not - still isn't) they could only offer an 0845 number for North Wales Police.

Another example for the 0fcom consultation.

And using a local number is actually easier for the caller, as well as cheaper, because one can generally remember a locally-based number.

Now to check the lists and add the local numbers...