101: The new number for police

The public can now dial '101' to reach police for non-emergency matters in London, after figures have shown than more than three quarters of calls to 999 do not require an emergency response.

The new number should be used in cases where urgent attention is not needed, for example, to report a crime that has already been committed, or to make the local unit aware of policing issues.

Metropolitan Police Service Assistant Commissioner for Territorial Policing, Ian McPherson, said: "The introduction of 101 is one of the

biggest changes in the way people can contact the police since 999 was introduced in the 1940s.

"Having just two phone numbers - 101 for reporting a crime that has

happened, to get advice or to raise local policing issues, or 999 if

it's an emergency - makes calling the Met a lot easier and

makes our services more accessible."

Like 999, calls to 101 will be taken 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by a trained response team.