#WhoYouGonnaCall?
More than 700,000 calls are made to the 999 and 101 number each year. The force control room (FCR) triages these calls and ensure the appropriate action is taken for each call.
Our #WhoYouGonnaCall campaign aims to explain how these calls are dealt with.
The FCR is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is often the first point of contact for many members of the public.
It is also the main point of contact for police officers. They dispatch the nearest appropriate resource to incidents. They check intelligence to keep officers safe and ensure each incident is concluded to a satisfactory level.
Every call goes through a threat, risk and harm assessment which leads to that call being prioritised accordingly.
With large numbers of calls, queues can builds up because everyone is trying to call one central call centre. This can lead to long wait times.
Not all calls are emergencies and not all of these require an immediate police response.
The FCR often takes calls relating to individuals with mental health issues, social needs, vulnerable cases or people reported missing.
Sometimes the police is not the most appropriate service to help. There are other agencies out there that are better placed to meet those needs, not a police emergency response.
Going digital
Did you know that there are a number of things you can report online? Quickly, confidentially and conveniently.
You can do this at a time and place that suits you, and it can help free up the operator for emergencies.
