Police launch campaign to raise awareness of policing services available

Cumbria Police are launching a campaign to raise awareness of the different policing services available and to ensure people get the right response and information for the right situation.

There are many different ways members of the public can get in contact with the police, but certain channels are more suitable depending on the nature and urgency of the problem.

The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of how people can get the response or information they need more effectively. As a result, it is hoped that unnecessary demand on the service will be reduced.

Chief Superintendent Steve Johnson said “We always encourage people to dial 999 straight away in an emergency, but we want to make sure they realise that there are other ways to contact police when an immediate response is not required.

“There is a lot of information on our website, and this can be a much more convenient way of getting information and finding out what is going on in the county or a certain area in particular.

“We also aim to highlight where the police aren’t the correct agency to contact for a solution. For instance when someone finds a stray dog, has a parking problem or wants to report lost property – these aren’t matters for the police and we want to educate the public on where they should go instead, and how they should contact the correct organisation.

“And we are going to ask people to really think before they pick up the phone. We get many people call us to ask for the number of a taxi firm or to ask directions, and we even recently had a caller ask what temperature they should put the oven on to cook a chicken. This may seem amusing, but it could have prevented us from speaking to someone who required an urgent response.

“Without all the misdirected calls, officers will have even more time to focus on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, and responding to those who really need our help.”

Cumbria Police also have an updated website (still found at www.cumbria.police.uk) which will continue to feature the latest news and information about the policing service and county. It will also give easy-to-follow advice on who to contact and how to contact them for a range of specific queries, and offer the new facility of reporting a non-emergency crime online.

The average visits to the website is just over 40,000 a month.

As part of the campaign, information leaflets and cards will be distributed to local police desks, and our social media feeds will focus on directing people towards the most appropriate service for their needs, with the #PolicingCumbria.

Chief Superintendent Johnson added “It’s really important for both the public and the service that people direct their problems to the right place – it’s about helping us to help you.”

Policing services:

Social media and the Community Messaging Service – is continuously updated with the latest news, appeals, safety information and crime prevention advice.

Police website – This also gives detailed information about crime prevention and safety advice, as well the latest news, information about the police, and the new additions as mentioned above.

Police stations and desks – These give people the chance to speak to someone face to face, with desks being held regularly in local communities where there isn’t a station. This would be the right place to go to make a statement, to speak to a local officer or for some crime prevention advice. 

101 – This should be used when a crime has been committed but an immediate response is not required. For example if your house has been burgled, your car has been stolen or your property has been damaged. These calls are now answered by police officers.

999 – This is to be used in an emergency situation and when an immediate response is required. This means that life is in danger, violence is being used or threatened, or a crime is in progress.Police launch campaign to raise awareness of policing services available

Dial 101 for non-emergencies

A single police non-emergency number has been rolled out to police forces across England and Wales.

101 is an easy to remember number which can be used to contact your local police about crimes or concerns that do not need an emergency response.

At 15p per call from both mobile phones and landlines, no matter how long the call lasts or what time of day, many members of the public will be spared the cost of traditional 0845 numbers previously used by many forces which can cost up to 40p per minute.

The number to call for emergencies – immediate threat to life or property, or a crime in progress – remains 999.

It is hoped 101 will also ease pressures on the emergency number and ensure services reach those in immediate need.

Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice, Nick Herbert said: 'The introduction of the 101 number marks one of the most significant changes in the way people contact the police since 999 was introduced nearly 70 years ago.

'The public now have an easier way to contact their local police force with a memorable number for non-emergencies. Previous plans for a national non-emergency number never materialised, but this Government has delivered a practical scheme.

'Together with street level crime mapping and the election of Police and Crime Commissioners, 101 marks another step forward in our ambition to strengthen the connection between the police and public, and cut crime.'

More information on the 101 number and how it works can be found at www.police.UK/101

Police identify man who died in suspicious circumstances in Barrow

Police have identified the man who died in suspicious circumstances in Barrow as local man, John Martin Chapman.

Mr Chapman, 51, was sadly found dead in his home on Horland Court on Hope Street, Barrow on the afternoon of Monday 9^th January. A post mortem is due to take place later today.

A 30 year old man from Barrow has been arrested on suspicion of assault and remains in police custody this morning for questioning.

Mr Chapman’s family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained Police Officers.

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen Mr Chapman in the last few days or who may have witnessed anything out of the ordinary in the area of Hope Street or Rawlinson Street recently – and particularly on Sunday 8^th January - to contact Barrow CID on 101 immediately.

The family of John Chapman have released a tribute to a man who will ‘always be loved and deeply missed.’

Joy Burton and Jane Duncan, the sisters of Mr Chapman who was known locally as ‘Chappie’, said: “John struggled for many years and will be always loved and deeply missed by his family. We are awaiting official reports to confirm the circumstances of his death. John, we are sure, will be missed by all those who really knew him.”

Police non-emergency number, 101 is catching on

Since the launch of the new non-emergency police number, 101, it is catching on and is being used more and more by the residents in Cumbria.

On average, 25% of the non-emergency calls being made to Cumbria Constabulary are via the 101 number since its launch on 13 December 2011.

The new number will eventually replace Cumbria Constabulary’s current non-emergency number, 0845 33 00 247. This number, in time, will be phased out.  All calls for Cumbria are still answered by the same Police staff in the Constabulary’s Communications Centre.

When calling 101, the system will determine the caller’s location and play a recorded message announcing the police force they’re being connected to. Callers will also hear options to select for neighbouring Forces. If callers are on a boundary between two or more forces, the recorded message will give a choice of which force to be connected to.  If a caller wishes to contact a Force not given in these options, then there is a further option to select to speak with an operator who will route the caller to any of the 43 Forces in England and Wales.

Calls to 101 will cost 15p per call, no matter what time of day it is, or how long the call lasts. This means everyone calling the police will know exactly how much a call will cost them, whether they’re calling from a landline or a mobile phone.

Chief Inspector Dawn Allen, from the Constabulary’s Communication Centre, said "It is positive to see that the 101 number is being used and this will go from strength to strength in the up and coming months now that the number is being promoted across the county.

“101 is a easy number to remember for non-emergency calls and unfortunately over the New Year period we did see an increase in the number of non-emergency calls being made to the 999 number.

“I would like to remind people 999 should only be used in cases of emergency, all other calls and enquiries should be made to the 101 where Communications staff will be able to help you.”

Further details about 101 will be published through local posters and advertisements that will appear throughout the county over the up and coming weeks.

Anyone who is unsure is advised to speak to their local police officer who will be able to reassure them. More information is available on the Constabulary’s website at http://www.cumbria.police.uk/news/latest-news/police-launch-101.

To find out more about what is happening in the local community, visit http://www.cumbria.police.uk/cumbriacommunitymessaging