In March 2010, as part of the Safe and Confident Neighbourhoods Strategy, the Government announced their intention to work with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities to develop the ‘101’ number as a national non-emergency number for contacting the police. This will enable the public to report non-emergency crime and antisocial behaviour concerns and contact their local police force, using the same three-digit telephone number, wherever they live in England and Wales. We intend a national police non-emergency number to be in place by March 2012, subject to further work on the procurement of a suitable infrastructure which provides value for money for the police service, Government and the public.
The Home Office is currently committed to funding the existing contract for the ‘101’ number until March 2011. In 2010-11, this will be approximately £950,000. Any future funding will be subject to the next comprehensive spending review.