101 a lot easier to remember than 0300 123 1212

With just days to go until the public launch of the Met’s new contact number 101 - which is being introduced to improve services and accessibility - we are calling on officers and staff to tell friends and family about the new number.

The 101 contact number is being introduced across the country, and in London will replace the existing ‘0300’ number. The MPS and some of our neighbouring forces will be early adopters with all constabularies in England and Wales going live by 2012.

Next Monday (11 July) the new contact number will be publicly launched by Assistant Commissioner Ian McPherson and the Home Office policing minister Nick Herbert, and will be followed by a marketing campaign aimed at all Londoners.

The campaign forms part of a series of communications that will seek to inform the public about how they can contact the Met. A series of publicity materials have already been sent to boroughs and CCC hubs with more available to order, free of charge through the EBP stores ordering system from 11th July. The material should be used by OCUs and boroughs to help spread the 101 message by informing their communities and local contacts about the new number.

Commander Tony Eastaugh from Territorial Policing 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 1940's.

"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 to all.

"The new, easy to remember number is being introduced across the country to make it simpler for people to contact the police and aims to keep 999 available for genuine emergencies.

"With thousands of officers and staff in the Met we can all help to spread the word about 101 so it would be great if we could all do our bit, and make sure that you tell at least 3 friends or family members about 101."

The introduction of 101 is a major part of our commitment to giving the public greater access to the Met - 101 will play a significant role in:

- Helping communities to keep their neighbourhoods safe by giving them one easy way to contact their local police and to report non-emergency crime and disorder;

- Making the police more accessible to their communities, whilst reducing pressure on the 999 system and helping the police to put their resources where they are needed most.

- Helping the police to cut crime by making it easier for the public to pass on information about crimes in their neighbourhoods and allowing the police to take swift action

Calls to the Met's existing non emergency number (0300 123 1212) will continue to be received, but it will be quickly phased out as 101 becomes established.