New Police Non-Emergency Number 0300 111 0300
A new non-emergency telephone number for Lincolnshire Police is now in use.
The easy-to-remember - 0300 111 0300 - is the non-emergency single number for all calls to the Force, with all the old numbers gradually being phased out over the coming months.
Superintendent Keith Owen, responsible for the Force Communications and Control Centre says it is another way of improving the police's services to the public. "It's easy to remember, easy to dial and will be the same local call rate from anywhere in the county," he said. "We want to make our response to non-emergency calls as efficient as possible and the move to an 0300 number will help us to do this." "It also brings us in line with many other police forces and public bodies throughout the country."
The 0300 numbers were introduced for the public sector to eliminate public confusion over call costs. Unlike other non-geographic numbers, calls to 0300 numbers must be included in fixed line and mobile call packages and in some cases will be free, even from mobiles (if the package has inclusive free calls).
All calls to the 0300 number will be answered by call-takers in the central Force Communications and Control Centre based just north of Lincoln at Nettleham. "The calls will be answered by local people who will be able to offer local advice and deal with queries quickly and efficiently and will know exactly where to direct the calls," says Superintendent Owen. "The staff in the Force Communications and Control Centre will make an initial assessment of the needs of the caller, and transfer the call to the person best able to help."
The '999' system continues to be for emergency calls only -
- Violence being used or threatened
- A danger to life
- A crime in progress or an offender has been disturbed
- An injury road collision
- A non-injury collision causing serious traffic congestion
Superintendent Owen says there is sometimes a discrepancy between an actual emergency and what some people believe to be an emergency. "Any of the elements on this list constitute an emergency and will be dealt with immediately and swiftly," he said. "Other than that, the new 0300 number is the one to use". "This will ensure that 999 calls are given the priority they need and that response to emergency calls are not jeopardised by inappropriate use of this number".
Please note that the 0300 111 0300 number should be used for all non-emergency calls to Lincolnshire Police.
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