SAYNOTO0870.COM - Police introduce charges for non-emergency calls

Dave

Global Moderator

Offline

Posts: 9,902
Yorkshire
Gender: male

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #135 - Oct 10^th, 2008 at 4:42pm

West Midlands Police Authority
Meeting of Finance & Resources Committee
8 May 2008

http://www.west-midlands-pa.gov.uk/documents/committees/public/2008/01a_Financea...

Quote:

47. NON-EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER

The Chief Constable submitted a report (Interleaved No.4).

Members considered the report and noted that:

West Midlands Police had undertaken a major review of its telephone handling arrangements during 1999-2001 due to the low satisfaction from callers and feedback from partners.
In addition to the infrastructure, technology and software changes that had been implemented there would be a single non-emergency call number which would deal with the issue immediately or pass it on to the relevant Operational Command Unit or department. OCU
This was the launch of the 0845 113 5000 number
Since then the government had also been considering a national single non-emergency number (SNEN) 101. However despite some pilots, Home Office funding for this scheme was removed.
Since the implementation of 0845 113 5000 in 2002 around 1.7million people have used it on average per year with satisfaction and performance levels showing improvement.
When implemented the 0845 number had a cost rate similar to a local call even though it could be made anywhere.
Revised costing for calls, particularly 'bundles' where 0845 numbers are excluded, mean that some callers have had to pay to call the 0845 number when they feel that is should be free as part of their bundle. The cost to call an 0845 depends upon the service provider.
West Midlands Police received a revenue of around £23,000 from NTL Telewest service provider during 2007-08
There are four possible options going forward for West Midlands.
To move to the national 101 number. This would require joined up working with the seven local authorities with potential funding and technology issue.
To move to use 0800 free phone number at an estimated annual cost of £412k to West Midlands Police. Also mobile phone users would still have to pay towards the cost of the call.
To move to use the 0300/0345 numbers. These would still result in a cost to West Midlands Police but at a discounted rate of around £90-100k per annum. Mobile phone callers would again incur a cost but 0300/0345 numbers are included in 'bundle' packages.
To return to an 0121 number. This would no additional costs to West Midlands Police and would be included in 'bundle' packages. Use of the 0845 number could continue alongside this. There was some concern that some people in noon 0121 areas within the West Midlands may feel disenfranchised by dialling 0121 to speak to their 'local' police. An 0121 number would also make it easier to contact from abroad.
Use of the 0845 number was a disincentive to irresponsible callers.

RESOLVED:
a) That the Committee note the submitted report.
b) That a further report be received in six months time with fuller costings that could form part of the planning for the 2009-10 budget.

Back to top

IP Logged

Dave

Global Moderator

Offline

Posts: 9,902
Yorkshire
Gender: male

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #136 - Oct 12^th, 2008 at 9:10pm

Source: Metropolitan Police Authority

http://www.mpa.gov.uk/committees/mpa/2008/081006/05.htm

Quote:

Commissioner's Report

Report: 5
Date: 6 October 2008
By: the Commissioner

[…]

12. The MPS ‘Promise to Citizens’ will set out the level of service which can be expected by Londoners. The emerging content has been developed through research with London citizens and service users. The MPS Promise fulfils many of the requirements of the Government’s ‘Policing Pledge’ and goes further by explaining how we will deliver those services. The MPA are involved in the development of this work and proposals will be presented to Members in the future. As part of the Citizen Focus programme two phases of work are underway:

* Phase 1 – launch of the Met Non Emergency Contact Number (0300 123 1212) on 29 September. This is a single and memorable non emergency contact number.
* Phase 2 – establishment of a Customer Service Unit on 6 October. This unit will handle complaints of service failure, analyse user feedback and monitor organisational change in response to feedback.

[…]

Back to top

IP Logged

Dave

Global Moderator

Offline

Posts: 9,902
Yorkshire
Gender: male

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #137 - Oct 12^th, 2008 at 9:24pm

Source: Worcester News

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/3746548.Phoning_police_is_soon_to_become_che...

Phoning police is soon to become cheaper
8:00am Sunday 12th October 2008
By Claire Fry

<<
PEOPLE who want to ring the police in Worcestershire for non-emergencies will soon find their phone bills are cheaper.

Police forces across the UK are to have phone numbers starting with 03, instead of 0845. The new numbers, unlike the ones starting with 0845, will cost no more to call than normal landline numbers which begin with 01 and 02 from all landline and mobile providers.

Chief Supt John Jones, head of contact management and service quality for West Mercia Constabulary, said: “In response to concerns raised by our public we have reviewed the force’s non-emergency number and are actively working with our telephone suppliers to introduce a new number before the end of the year. The new number will charge users at local call rates whether they call from a landline or a mobile phone.”

[…]
>>

Back to top

IP Logged

Dave

Global Moderator

Offline

Posts: 9,902
Yorkshire
Gender: male

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #138 - Oct 13^th, 2008 at 10:54am

Source: Denis Healy, Hull Lib Dems

http://www.denishealy.org.uk/newsitem.aspx?action=view&id=60

04/09/2008 - Healy given tour of Humberside Police Control Room

<<
Denis Healy recently visited Hessle Road Police Station, home to the Humberside Police Call Centre. He was given a tour of the centre, and met with Superindedent Carl Sheppard to discuss the Lib Dem campaign to change the Police telephone number from 0845

'I am very grateful to Carl Sheppard and Humberside Police for thier hospitality on the day,' said Denis.

'Crime is a very important issue to residents in Hull, and it was a great experience for me to see the police in action.'

'The new call centre is extremely efficient, and the speed at which both emergency and non-emergency calls are dealt with is up there with the best in the country.'

'Superindendent Sheppard explained to me the full issue surrounding changing the force's number from 0845 to 0345, and the issue will be subject to further debate within the force.'

'In the meantime, if you support my campaign to change the force's number to 0345, in a manner that will save resident's thousends of pounds each year in calls, please sign my petition in the petitions section of this website,' added Denis.
>>

Back to top

IP Logged

allegro Senior Member Offline Posts: 335	Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal Reply #139 - Oct 14^th, 2008 at 8:48am Good news. London police now have an 0300 number for non-emergency calls. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7668701.stm If London police and the BBC can use 03xx numbers there's hope yet.
Back to top	IP Logged

Dave

Global Moderator

Offline

Posts: 9,902
Yorkshire
Gender: male

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #140 - Oct 14^th, 2008 at 1:36pm

Source: Metropolitan Police Service News Release

http://cms.met.police.uk/news/major_operational_announcements/mps_launches_the_n...

Quote:

The MPS is using a 0300 number in accordance with Ofcom’s recommendation for public sector bodies. When calling 0300 123 1212 local rates apply from BT landlines. Other networks and calls from mobiles may vary.

Why do the Met still not understand the cost of calls? Despite the 03 number rules applying across all providers, they still persist with the nonsense that "other networks and calls from mobiles may vary"?

The contact page continues in the same vein:
Quote:

Local call charges apply on BT lines. Mobiles and other networks may vary.

The campaign posters also state this.

Back to top

IP Logged

Dave

Global Moderator

Offline

Posts: 9,902
Yorkshire
Gender: male

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #141 - Oct 25^th, 2008 at 3:27pm

Source: Western Daily Press

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/news/politics/great-phones-rip/article-409159...

Quote:

The great phones rip-off

Saturday, October 18, 2008, 08:00

It is the secret rip-off… dozens of councils, police forces and Government departments are raking in the cash every time we pick up the phone and call them.

And last night, police and council chiefs said they had no plans to end the practice of charging people more than they should just to make contact with them.

[…]

Wiltshire police chiefs decided last week not to switch to an 03 number. Chief constable Brian Moore said the risk of negative publicity from using a more expensive number was outweighed by the risk of people not being able to remember another new phone number. It would cost between £2,000 and £4,500 a month for the police to switch to a cheaper line.

[…]

Back to top

IP Logged

Dave

Global Moderator

Offline

Posts: 9,902
Yorkshire
Gender: male

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #142 - Oct 25^th, 2008 at 3:33pm

Source: This is Cheshire

http://www.thisischeshire.co.uk/news/3739933.No_cost_cuts_for_Cheshire/

Quote:

No cost cuts for Cheshire

1:40pm Monday 13th October 2008

CHESHIRE Police will not be one of the forces to cut costs for callers by changing its 0845 non-emergency telephone numbers.

Staffordshire Police last week became the latest force in the UK to announce they will switch to 03 prefix numbers, with more set to change, but Cheshire Police will not be following suit.

[…]

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “The decision for Cheshire is still up in the air. We are investigating the possibility of using the 03 prefix number.

“Early indications show that we would be charged for every call we receive so we have to see whether it is appropriate and affordable.”

[…]

Back to top

IP Logged

Dave Global Moderator Offline Posts: 9,902 Yorkshire Gender:	West Mercia Constabulary - 0300 333 3000 Reply #143 - Oct 27^th, 2008 at 1:35pm West Mercia Constabulary has announced it will be switching to 0300 333 3000 on Monday!
Back to top	IP Logged

Tanllan

Supreme Member

Offline

Posts: 797
Gender: male

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #144 - Oct 27^th, 2008 at 8:42pm

Dave wrote on Oct 25^th, 2008 at 3:33pm:

Source: This is Cheshire
http://www.thisischeshire.co.uk/news/3739933.No_cost_cuts_for_Cheshire/
Quote:

No cost cuts for Cheshire
1:40pm Monday 13th October 2008 - CHESHIRE Police will not be one of the forces to cut costs for callers by changing its 0845 non-emergency telephone numbers.
Staffordshire Police last week became the latest force in the UK to announce they will switch to 03 prefix numbers, with more set to change, but Cheshire Police will not be following suit.
[…]
A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “The decision for Cheshire is still up in the air. We are investigating the possibility of using the 03 prefix number.
“Early indications show that we would be charged for every call we receive so we have to see whether it is appropriate and affordable.”[…]

Of course, they could use their existing network. After calls to Ellesmere Port and Chester numbers still go, on their own network, to Northwich. Gosh, I wonder how that works?

Back to top

IP Logged

Dave

Global Moderator

Offline

Posts: 9,902
Yorkshire
Gender: male

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #145 - Oct 28^th, 2008 at 8:44pm

Source: Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3272206/Rape-victims-have-to-pay-when-cal...

Rape victims have to pay when calling for help

Rape victims are having to pay to call premium rate lines to get help.

<<
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has said new Government-funded Sexual Assault Referral Centres across the country will improve the support given to victims.

But a centre in Gloucester is making victims phone an 0845 number to get advice on what to do after an attack.

Mobile users and callers from BT payphones will have to pay up to 20 pence per minute extra over the cost of a call to a normal number.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne said: "Victims of crime need to be helped, not ripped off. If even one were to be put off by the cost of a call it would be a travesty.

"Assurances must be given that calls, if not free of charge, are at least billed at the local rate."

Phone campaigner David Hickson said: "There are many people who think they are getting through to a low-cost number. They are not. 0845 numbers used to be known as local rate. This ended in 2004.

"They are now 'revenue sharing' numbers where some of these excess charges go to the provider of the number."

Ms Smith said she would crack down on the centres charging callers.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We will raise this issue."

A source at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where the centre is based, said they believed calls were routed through the main switchboard.
>>

Back to top

IP Logged

Heinz Supreme Member Offline Posts: 1,362 Essex	Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal Reply #146 - Oct 28^th, 2008 at 9:09pm Dave wrote on Oct 28^th, 2008 at 8:44pm: A source at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where the centre is based, said they believed calls were routed through the main switchboard. Numpty. What the heck difference does it make where the calls are routed?
Back to top	After years of ignoring govt. guidelines & RIPPING OFF Council Tax payers using 0845 numbers, Essex County Council changed to 0345 numbers on 2 November 2015 IP Logged

SilentCallsVictim

Supreme Member

Offline

aka NHS.Patient, DH_fairtelecoms

Posts: 2,494

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #147 - Oct 29^th, 2008 at 2:01am

Dave wrote on Oct 28^th, 2008 at 8:44pm:

Source: Telegraph Rape victims have to pay when calling for help

See also Help offered to sex assault victims - Press Association.

"A person who has experienced sexual assault or rape can visit Hope House SARC or can make contact by telephone."

The new Sexual Assault Referral Centre is organised by:

Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust - 08454 221500 and Gloucestershire Constabulary - 0845 090 1234

It is hosted by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 0845 222 222, at the Hope House Sexual Health Clinic - 08454 226 201

Doubt has been raised about which number should be called.

So far as I can see, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

Back to top

@fairtelecoms (tweets)

IP Logged

SilentCallsVictim

Supreme Member

Offline

aka NHS.Patient, DH_fairtelecoms

Posts: 2,494

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #148 - Oct 29^th, 2008 at 2:41am

Update - Hope House Gloucester SARC

Since the information contained in the previous posting was assembled, two new items have appeared on the internet.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/10/28/rape-victims-forced-to-pay-f....

http://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/Other/Hope%20House%20SARC/item7954.html.

Whilst the latter item may contain good news for those who are able to arrange for a sexual assault to take place during office hours, I do not believe that it was available to the journalists at the time when they prepared their pieces. They also apparently contacted those who may have known about the alternative number that may be used to avoid calling the hospital switchboard, the Police, the PCT or the out of hours number.

Back to top

@fairtelecoms (tweets)

IP Logged

SilentCallsVictim

Supreme Member

Offline

aka NHS.Patient, DH_fairtelecoms

Posts: 2,494

Re: Police introduce charges for non-emergency cal
Reply #149 - Oct 30^th, 2008 at 3:34am

Dave wrote on Oct 14^th, 2008 at 1:36pm:

Quote:

When calling 0300 123 1212 local rates apply from BT landlines. Other networks and calls from mobiles may vary.

Why do the Met still not understand the cost of calls? Despite the 03 number rules applying across all providers, they still persist with the nonsense that "other networks and calls from mobiles may vary"?

Due to efforts from various quarters the Met has seen the light, if rather slowly.

The message on the contact page on the website now reads:

Quote:

Calls from any network will cost no more than those to 01 or 02 numbers, and also count as part of any bundled minutes.

This is the description that will be used henceforward, although a lot of material bearing the old (mistaken) description will be around for some time.

Back to top

@fairtelecoms (tweets)

IP Logged