101 Non emergency number

[-Ralph-]

I have called 999 on a couple of occasions to report motorway debris, or a car broken down in the fast lane, etc.

I've always felt bad about using 999 for this, but had no other way of getting a number for the local police in the area I was driving through.

That said, motorway debris could cause a serious motorway speed accident, so it being there COULD end up being a matter of life and death.

So, what's this new 101 number for? What constitutes a 999 emergency and what doesn't?

[-Ralph-]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJusticeAndTheLaw/Reportingcrimeandantisocialbehaviour/DG_185338

[MisterTommyH]

101 seems good as it takes away the hassle of finding the 'long' number for the force in your area - it was probably laziness that made people call 999 for silly things before.

IMHO 999 IS justified for debris on a motorway, or anything else you might need to report there due to the speeds involved and potential for chaos when it all goes wrong. Have used it myself when I've seen a pedestrian walking onto the hard shoulder with no car in sight.

[Fruity-ya-ya]

I'd assume that if you called 101 over an issue you thought was non-urgent but the call handler knew it to be otherwise, that they'd either deal with the call as such or immediately raise the issue with the appropriate member of staff.

I called 101 once about kids smashing the glass at a tram stop. I was advised next time I should call 999 if the same crime was in progress. I'm presuming my call was handled as a 999 call anyway as a patrol car rolled up soon after I'd phoned.

[Ch00]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJusticeAndTheLaw/Reportingcrimeandantisocialbehaviour/DG_185338

That link covers it pretty well

What you can report using 101

Call 101 to contact the police to report less urgent crime and disorder or to speak to your local officers. For example, call 101:

if your car has been stolen
if your property has been damaged
if you suspect drug use or dealing in your local area
to report a minor traffic accident
to give the police information about crime in your area
to speak to the police about a general enquiry
When you should use 999 instead

In an emergency always call 999.
You should call 999 if:

a crime is in progress
someone suspected of a crime is nearby
there is danger to life
violence is being used or threatened
If you call 101 but are reporting an emergency, you will be directed to the 999 service.

[Red Herring]

Don't forget to call 999 if you've had an argument with your teenager and they have gone off in a huff despite you telling them not to. Everybody else seems to and the police generally respond with numerous patrols flashing around with their blue lights on and the helicopter hovering overhead, whilst someone takes a lengthy history of how said teenager once told you they would rather kill themselves than eat rice pudding. The officer will then spends twice as long entering it all onto a computer program designed by an ex-police officer who has retired and been re-employed as an "advisor", usually finishing just as the errant teenager comes home and asks mum for a lift down the pub.

[timwilky]

Oh Red Herring you must have worked Chorley for Lancs ploddery. You have definitely met daughter no 2. As desperate parents we dragged her into the local cop shop and unfortunately the knowing officer said to me that they were no longer able to scare the poo out of kids but would have a word.

After trying to talk to her and her response being she didn't talk to pieces of bacon they realised it was not the parents with a problem and parting words to her being "I think we are going to be seeing quite a bit of you". When they used to bring her home at stupid O'clock, they were almost apologetic as they would say to me, "Good Luck".

Back to the original post. Bit daft that this is not a big bang national rollout. But phased. How are people (especially strangers to an area) to know whether it is live if they see something of concern.

[thefallenangel]

It is also useful for reporting diesel/oil spills on road out of council hours or general incidents which could become dangerous such as traffic lights being out.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Is this just England and Wales?

[carelesschucca]

Is this just England and Wales?

I hope so cause if you don't know about it we're in trouble.

[JamesMio]

I thought that 101 number had been around for years..? Sure I remember seeing something about it ages ago.

[-Ralph-]

That link covers it pretty well

What you can report using 101

Call 101 to contact the police to report less urgent crime and disorder or to speak to your local officers. For example, call 101:

if your car has been stolen
if your property has been damaged
if you suspect drug use or dealing in your local area
to report a minor traffic accident
to give the police information about crime in your area
to speak to the police about a general enquiry
When you should use 999 instead

In an emergency always call 999.
You should call 999 if:

a crime is in progress
someone suspected of a crime is nearby
there is danger to life
violence is being used or threatened
If you call 101 but are reporting an emergency, you will be directed to the 999 service.

So whereabouts does half a truck tyre in the fast lane of the motorway appear in that list? Likely only to cause a damaged front bumper in reality. It could be a danger to life in a very unfortunate chain of circumstances (or if happened upon by a very stupid driver), but then so can a patch of fog as seen on the M5 crash, but you wouldn't call 999 to report that.

[xXBADGERXx]

I would say that half a truck tyre in the outside lane was credible for a 999 call as there is a danger to life

[Icanopit]

999 free, 101 15p, as a poor OAP all my calls will be free :smt042

[Bluefish]

101 first time i've heard of it, I try not to talk to the Police :rolleyes:

[-Ralph-]

OK, seems a few folk think motorway debris justifies 999. I'll not worry about it in future.

[Amadeus]

I didn't know about 101 - thanks.

I once called 999 because a couple of people each carrying a couple of big bags were trying to cross the m4 carriageway only to be told that it wasn't an emergency. I snapped back that it probably would be soon if they weren't picked up and put the phone down.
I also phoned the long number when some ruffians were kicking a football against my house window after I'd politely asked them not to kick the ball against the house because it made a loud noise inside. I was told that there was nothing the police could do about it.

I'm not sure why I'm saying all that - suppose both incidents still bother me. Not having a go at coppers in any way - I assume these lines are manned by civilians. I'll try 101 next time I have a reason to.

[Red Herring]

So whereabouts does half a truck tyre in the fast lane of the motorway appear in that list? Likely only to cause a damaged front bumper in reality.

Do you have a front bumper on your SV then....?

Joking aside debris calls are one of the most common incidents on our motorways. Think about that next time you are following a car square on, the first you will see of it is when it pops out directly in front of you. Also worth bearing in mind when riding quickly at night.

If you see anything bigger than a golf ball call it in, answering the phone costs the police peanuts, closing the Motorway for four hours whilst we clean up the consequence costs everybody loads.

[MisterTommyH]

Joking aside debris calls are one of the most common incidents on our motorways. Think about that next time you are following a car square on, the first you will see of it is when it pops out directly in front of you. Also worth bearing in mind when riding quickly at night.


You're not joking. On the way to the NEC yesterday about a foot long piece of 2x4 appeared coming from under the tyre of the van infront. If it had caught it a bit differently........:eek:

[timwilky]

Horrible motorway debris I know of :-

My boss and his wife in pre seat belt day driving up the M6 at night find a railway sleeper at 70 mph.

Or the local director of public health who met a cable spool falling off the back of a lorry.

Car 3 in front of me when a truck wheel/tyre bounce over the central reservation and into his A post at 70mph.

If people only realised the danger of their insecure loads.

[-Ralph-]

Do you have a front bumper on your SV then....?

Joking aside debris calls are one of the most common incidents on our motorways. Think about that next time you are following a car square on, the first you will see of it is when it pops out directly in front of you. Also worth bearing in mind when riding quickly at night.

If you see anything bigger than a golf ball call it in, answering the phone costs the police peanuts, closing the Motorway for four hours whilst we clean up the consequence costs everybody loads.

On a bike I'd miss it ;)

A five foot wide car bumper lying sideways however... at night...

£1000 damage to the front of a brand new Vauxhall Cavalier in the 90's, after a traffic cone 'popped out' the back of my Dad's car one dark night on the M74. £1200 damage to the front of his relatively new Vauxhall Carlton. He had dipped beam on and he'd hit it as quick as he saw it. We were doing the speeds you might expect in big comfortable cars, on a deserted motorway, in the middle of the night. That was an expensive journey.

Travelling at high speed on an unlit motorway at night, literally is 'blind' faith, and pot luck, if you have oncoming traffic and can't get the full beam on.

[Amadeus]

Travelling at high speed on an unlit motorway at night, literally is 'blind' faith, and pot luck, if you have oncoming traffic and can't get the full beam on.

I often wonder what I'd do if an animal (fox/badger/deer etc) appeared in front of me when I was on a motorway (in the car). I know you're supposed to just carry on and hit it rather than panic-swerving but I wonder if I'd actually do that - whether I'd automatically swerve kind of before my brain had told me to carry on and prepare for a messy moment.

[-Ralph-]

I often wonder what I'd do if an animal (fox/badger/deer etc) appeared in front of me when I was on a motorway (in the car). I know you're supposed to just carry on and hit it rather than panic-swerving but I wonder if I'd actually do that - whether I'd automatically swerve kind of before my brain had told me to carry on and prepare for a messy moment.

Unlit motorway, no moonlight, dipped beam, 80mph? You wouldn't swerve. Nor would your brain have time to prepare for a messy moment. You'd just see the obstruction and hear the bang.

[Ch00]

Is this just England and Wales?

It would seem so. Its all very new!!

Objects on fast roads as has been said well worth a 999 call.

[xXBADGERXx]

Unlit motorway, no moonlight, dipped beam, 80mph? You wouldn't swerve. Nor would your brain have time to prepare for a messy moment. You'd just see the obstruction and hear the bang.

Have to agree there , The amount of wildlife I have seen on my travels in the rear view mirror as it ducked , beggars belief . Squirrels though , indecisive little bastages , they jink left and right about 5 times before picking a direction . I looked in the mirror as one popped back up and thought "next time Matey , next time"

[Bluepete]

OK, seems a few folk think motorway debris justifies 999. I'll not worry about it in future.

Ralph,

Every bit of debris tha is reported to us is treated as an emergency response. Blue lights, sirens, swearing at blind feckers in white vans in lane three etc.

The consequences of a swerve to avoid a tyre in lane three can be horrendous.

Pete ;)

[MisterTommyH]

It would seem so. Its all very new!!



I don't think it's even all of England and Wales, just a few counties as a trial.

[Stephen McG]

In Scotland, all the trunk roads (motorways etc) are maintained by organisations on behalf of Transport Scotland (Scottish Highways Agency).
There are 4 areas in Scotland, NE,NW,SE,SW
each has a freephone number - manned 24hours, phone this with details of problem (include route and location, e.g M8 w/b just after J14) and someone will deal with it)
If a pedestrian on road, the control room will alert police.
I work for SW Unit.
All calls are audited so you will expect to see action.

SMcG in Glasgow

[Milky Bar Kid]

In Scotland, all the trunk roads (motorways etc) are maintained by organisations on behalf of Transport Scotland (Scottish Highways Agency).
There are 4 areas in Scotland, NE,NW,SE,SW
each has a freephone number - manned 24hours, phone this with details of problem (include route and location, e.g M8 w/b just after J14) and someone will deal with it)
If a pedestrian on road, the control room will alert police.
I work for SW Unit.
All calls are audited so you will expect to see action.

SMcG in Glasgow

Haha! Far quicker calling us....we will alert you lot anyway. Whenever someone calls Amey down here, they send us out first anyway!

[-Ralph-]

Ralph,

Every bit of debris tha is reported to us is treated as an emergency response. Blue lights, sirens, swearing at blind feckers in white vans in lane three etc.

The consequences of a swerve to avoid a tyre in lane three can be horrendous.

Pete ;)

Understood. When I said I wouldn't worry about it, I didn't mean I wouldn't call it in, it meant I would no longer worry if it was inappropriate use of 999.

[davepreston]

but ralph the 999 bod would ask you to put your mummy on the phone ;)

[-Ralph-]

but ralph the 999 bod would ask you to put your mummy on the phone ;)

:smt098

[MisterTommyH]

I just felt like I should add that I have found this number very useful to pass non-emergency information on to the Police regarding an incident that I have seen devolving over the night near to a friends house.

A very good idea in my opinion.

[hongman]

I didn't know a about this number til now. Thanks.

On the way back from a mates Bar at 2am myself and my friend saw 5 horses just wondering by the side of the road. I slowed down, good job too as one decided to wander into the road. Quick swerve, thought feck that and got my buddy to call 999.

Think they were pikey horses, no pikeys in sight though.

[Red Herring]

I didn't know a about this number til now. Thanks.

On the way back from a mates Bar at 2am myself and my friend saw 5 horses just wondering by the side of the road. I slowed down, good job too as one decided to wander into the road. Quick swerve, thought feck that and got my buddy to call 999.

Think they were pikey horses, no pikeys in sight though.

That's because they are waiting in the bushes for you to get out of your car to chase the horses out of the road.....

[Biker Biggles]

How do you know they were pikey horses?Were they pulling caravans with no wheels on them?Any dags?

[hongman]

lol. They just looked pikey-ish....

[yorkie_chris]

Unlit motorway, no moonlight, dipped beam, 80mph? You wouldn't swerve. Nor would your brain have time to prepare for a messy moment. You'd just see the obstruction and hear the bang.

Just enough time for the "oh, sh*t..." thought process to occur...

[xXBADGERXx]

Just enough time for the "oh, sh*t..." thought process to occur...

Or the sound of a Sphincter slamming shut