Thread: 0300 Police Use - 0845 Policing Rip-Off

There are still UK Police Forces ripping off the public with 0845 numbers. This is not a Local Rate telephone number.

Only 01,02 and 03 are UK Standard Call Rate and Mobile Standard Rate. These are the only inclusive numbers on any call plan for the UK.

If ACPO are that in line with Police Forces - why are some still ignoring their advice?

adeni.jpg ACPO Memo.pdf

Some UK Forces have changed to 03 or never changed fom 01,02 - they are to be saluted.

This Memo should be discussed at the NHW Network and Regional Meetings where Forces are on 0845. It does not encourage NHW to report non emergency matters.

A New Listing of the UK Police Forces still creaming off money from Calls will be posted soon.

These are in NHW Network Regions - this enables those in the Regions to see the Police Forces ripping them off with premium call rates.

WALES

Heddlu Dyfed Powys -- Dyfed Powys Police 0845 3302000 Changing to 03 in January 2009

Heddlu Gwent -- Gwent Police 01633 838111

Heddlu Gogledd Cymru -- North Wales Police 0845 6071002

Heddlu De Cymru -- South Wales Police 01656 655 555

Pending the details being reproduced here - please visit www.neighbourhoodpolicing.org.uk where listing appears.

A reply to a question on another Forum:

There was a lot of pressure on BT about 0845 from several sources. The main matter being described as a local call charge number - when it was 4 pence per minute.

This led to the BT Standard Charge being halved to 2 pence per minute.

This led to Banks and others grabbing and changing to 5 pence per minute 0844, as the kick back was now far larger. 0844 had been introduced as an internet dial up number.

Now the BT Standard UK Call Charge (Peak) is 4 pence per minute - with a 7 pence connection charge.

Telephone Charges in the UK are a mess even with several Government Quango’s that are supposed to protect the consumer. But seeing what the Financial Regulation Quango’s have done, only the lowest possible standards with minimal interest are required from them by this Government.

I am hoping that 0845 will be smoothed into 01,02 and 03 Standard Tariffs. The mobile companies made to stop exploiting this number (and some UK Police Forces).

But while there are rich pickings either in VAT or direct charge, the UK Public is there for the taking.

As an aside - would you have been happy with £2.25 charge for this call from your mobile? I am quoting the lowest charge available here.

Many people have inclusive calls on 01,02, and 03 at some time or all the time. This also includes mobiles.

Even today Norfolk police are giving out an 0845 number whilst seeking the public's help regarding a Norwich murder hunt (the banker beaten to death when he tried to intervene in a taxi-queue fight last night).

Is ACPO really just a pre-retirement talking shop for those who've been promoted 2 or 3 ranks above their ability?

Why isn't ACPO taking the lead here and insisting that the other 42 English & Welsh forces follow Essex (0300 333 4444) Police's lead and get an 0300 non-emergency number?

Heinz, your description fits. The extended version is that ACPO is a private company that is allowed and has been encouraged to be the mouthpiece of the Police Forces, England & Wales and Northern Ireland.

This has been made more powerful given a dithering to inept government who grasp at the ACPO produced policies as one may do at straws.

The move to 03 numbers by the less money grabbing Police Forces is saluted and dovetails into Neighbourhood Policing.

But the lack of movement in this by many Forces highlights the ‘Boys Club’ attitude to ACPO.

Those forces using or who will soon be using 03xx numbers are as follows:

Derbyshire 0345 123 3333
Durham 0345 60 60 365
Dyfed-Powys 0300 number (to be launched in January 2009)
Essex 0300 333 4444
Metropolitan Police 0300 123 1212
Northumbria 03456 043 043
Staffordshire 0300 123 4455
West Mercia Constabulary 0300 333 3000

Nottinghamshire Police is also looking at bringing in a single non-emergency number and is likely to be a 0300 number. See item number 3 on page 3 of this document.

A committee of Wiltshire Police Authority will discuss the Chief Constable's report on its 0845 non-emergency number on Monday:

http://www.wiltshire-pa.gov.uk/meeti...y%20Number.pdf

John
I have just heard from our local force, the Hertfordshire Constabulary that they have no intention in changing from their 0845 number to a 0300 number in the future. This is quite disgraceful on their part considering that the Chief Constable Frank Whiteley in the ACPO spokesman for the National NHW organisation and the fact that they are making money from the grass roots members is quite unbelievable and quite frankly unacceptable.

Len - I totally agree with you. It is disgraceful.

The Home Office (England & Wales) need to decide just who are running the basics of the Police Service to ensure value for money for the people who pay for it in the first place.

The Home Office should hold their heads in shame as they allow a free for all in these areas. Not fit for the purpose yet (whatever that actually is).

Further to my previous message 10 October, above, which I have now amended, I have learned that West Mercia Constabulary will be abandoning its 0845 number on Monday and replacing it with 0300 333 3000.


Wiltshire Police has decided not to change from the 0845 number. See newspaper report:

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/n...l/article.html

Chief constable Brian Moore said the risk of negative publicity from using a more expensive number was outweighed by the risk of people not being able to remember another new phone number.

This is an admission by the Chief Constable that the 0845 number carries "negative publicity" and thus that people won't ring in. It should be emphasised that he did recommend to the Authority that the force switches to a 03xx number.

Sadly Dave, it isn't just the possible "hidden" cost that stops people from ringing in - it's the inactivity (in some cases) of the Force they are ringing

I've often heard it said, "what's the point of calling, nothing ever gets done"......it's THAT kind of attitude / problem that needs addressing first......

Taking pride of place on their website www.westmercia.police.uk/

Is your Police Force Ripping you off?

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