Source: getsurrey (Surrey Advertiser)

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2062281_councils_0300_phone_numbers_a_beacon_f...

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Council’s 0300 phone numbers 'a beacon for others'

By Richard Pain
December 09, 2009

ONE year after their introduction, Surrey County Council has hailed its low-cost contact telephone numbers as a success.

But plans for Surrey Police to introduce a similar scheme appear to have been put on the back burner.

[…]

Two years ago, Surrey Police confirmed it was looking at scrapping its non-emergency 0845 contact number in favour of a cheaper alternative.

Mooted options included an 03 prefix or a local 01483 line.

However, Surrey Police said at the time that migrating to a new number would be expensive and the force is now on the brink of a major restructuring programme as it looks to drastically reduce costs.

Dave Lindsay, a spokesman for the Saynoto0870 campaign, has previously written to the force urging it to change its number.

He said: “The Saynoto0870.com campaign is delighted at Surrey County Council’s achievement and holds it up as a beacon for many others to follow.

“We would like to take this opportunity to renew our call to Surrey Police to abandon its 0845 number, which penalises mobile callers with charges of 40p per minute.”

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To read the article in full, follow the link.

I didn't see this at the time (don't work in London any more) but I wonder why they didn't pick 0300 230 1212 (to semi-mirror 020 7230 1212)?

Just on a minor point of interest, for those of us who are of an age to remember (from early childhood I stress) old police programmes where I'm sure I remember the Scotland Yard number was Whitehall 1212 so at least they've kept the last bit.  As I say irrelevant but of historical interest.

Source: West Midlands Police Authority

http://www.west-midlands-pa.gov.uk/documents/committees/public/2009/06_PolAuth_1...

10th December 2009

MONITORING AND OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICING PLEDGE
Report of the Chief Constable

From bottom of page 2:

Quote:


I just hope that this misinformation about it being a "free phone" number will not make it into publicity material.

Source: City of Lincoln Council

http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/news_det.asp?sec_id=4405&art_id=14058

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New number for non-emergency police calls

Date published: 6th January 2010

A single number for non-emergencies is now in use by Lincolnshire Police.

The number, 0300 111 0300, has been set up to make it easier for people calling the police when there isn't an emergency.

The new 0300 number will cost about the same or less than a local call - wherever in Lincolnshire the call is made from.  The calls will be answered by thh same local people in Lincoln as before the change, who will be able to offer local advice and deal with enquiries.

Emergency calls should still go through 999.  An emergency call is defined as any enquiry that relates to the following:

   * violence being used or threatened
   * a danger to life
   * a crime is in progress or an offender has been disturbed
   * an injury road collision
   * a non-injury road collision causing serious traffic congestion

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Staffordshire Police uses two 0300 numbers. Firstly, there's the main non-emergency one which is 0300 123 4455.

Then there's 0300 123 2345 which allows callers to be put through directly to officers on their Airwave mobiles, or to voicemail if not on duty. It answers with a prompt which requests a five digit number:

http://www.staffordshire.police.uk/policing_staffordshire/sot/longton/meir_north...

Dave wrote on Feb 25^th, 2010 at 12:24am:

Members may wish to follow discussion of both broader and particular issues raised by the quoted posting that continues here.

Source: Greenham Parish Council

http://www.greenham.gov.uk/minutes/minutes100310.pdf

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE GREENHAM PARISH COUNCIL
HELD IN ST MARY'S CHURCH HALL, GREENHAM
ON 10 MARCH 2010 AT 7.30 pm

Quote: