IT’S all change from today as people are reminded to dial a new police number of 101.

Residents must now ring 101 to contact Dorset Police for non-urgent enquiries.

It’s part of a scheme being rolled out nationally with Dorset and other forces in the South West going live today.

By the end of January next year the 101 number will be available in all police force areas of England and Wales.

Chief Superintendent Colin Searle, Communications and Contact Services Commander for Dorset Police, said: “The new 101 police non-emergency telephone number is easy to remember and will be live across the whole country early next year.

“It is important that the public in Dorset know that they must dial 101 to contact the police in Dorset for non-urgent business from now on.

“The public should call 101 to report crime, to contact their local Safer Neighbourhood Team, to provide us with information about crimes that have been committed or to make a general enquiry.

“As ever, people should always dial 999 in an emergency – when life is in danger or a crime is in progress.”

The Dorset Police Federation – which represents rank and file officers – said it welcomed the move.

Chairman Clive Chamberlain said: “It’s a good idea as it does seem to simplify things.

“The only thing I would say is that I’m not sure where the money is coming to fund this and I would be concerned if costs were exuberant at a time when cuts are being made.”

Mr Chamberlain also wondered what the process would be if someone wanted to contact Dorset Police for a non-urgent inquiry and they were calling from outside the force area.

Dorset Police said the non-emergency number of 01305 222222 would remain in use for members of the public that need to contact the force from outside of the county.

101 is being introduced to improve access to the police and ease pressure on 999.

People should continue to call 999 when it is an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened.

Calls to 101 (from landlines and mobile networks) cost 15p per call, no matter what time or how long the call is.

Callers will not be put through to a national call centre – 101 calls are answered by the local control room.

People who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired can textphone 18001 101.

For more details visit dorset.police.uk.