The new 101 police non-emergency telephone number has gone live today, Monday, 19 September 2011.

Members of the public in Dorset must now ring 101 to contact Dorset Police for non-urgent enquiries.

The new 101 number has replaced the previous non-emergency police number in Dorset of 01202 or 01305 222 222.

This new non-emergency number has gone live across all of the police forces in the south west today – and the 101 number is due to be available in all police force areas of England and Wales by the end of January 2012.

Chief Superintendent Colin Searle, Communications and Contact Services Commander, said: “The new 101 police non-emergency telephone number is easy to remember and will be live across the whole country early next year.

“It is important that the public in Dorset know that they must dial 101 to contact the police in Dorset for non-urgent business from now on.

“The public should call 101 to report crime, to contact their local Safer Neighbourhood Team, to provide us with information about crimes that have been committed or to make a general enquiry.

“As ever, people should always dial 999 in an emergency – when life is in danger or a crime is in progress.”

Calls to the 101 non-emergency number – from both landlines and mobile phones – cost 15 pence per call no matter what time of day you call, or how long you are on the phone.