Evaluation and assessment of the single non-emergency number 101 service in the initial five live areas has found that the service has successfully demonstrated the benefits it was intended to achieve. In addition to improving the public's access to community safety services, through better partnership working and information about what problems are happening where, the 101 service has also helped local police and councils to target their resources more effectively and efficiently and improve the delivery of those services to the public.
While the Government recognise the benefits that have been achieved, it has been decided that the Home Office will not continue to fund directly the operation of the 101 service in the live areas or the development of 101 services in other areas. This was a difficult decision taken in the context of significant pressure on resources and competing policing and security priorities.
However, the Home Office will continue to provide funding for the national 101 infrastructure in order to enable and support local areas to maintain or develop their own locally funded 101 services, informed by and building on the benefits demonstrated to date, I welcome the work currently being taken forward to this effect by the Greater London Assembly together with London councils, individual boroughs and the Metropolitan Police in their plans to pilot the 101 service locally.