Send for the Polis

[WC1]

Has anyone tried phoning the local Police Station recently? You can't get through directly, but find yourself shunted off to a call centre where you have to help the Police with some rather lengthy enquiries before you finally get put through to the guys on the ground locally. By insisting I just wanted put on to the local station I got through the process quite quickly today, but colleagues trying to get information about the roads in the recent weekend of snow (we had a couple of choirs away to Glasgow) had first of all a lengthy wait, then the twenty questions, then the wrong information. Progress? Or a backward step?

[Malky]

Backward step of course. You miss the local touch. Also, you don't always get transferred to the local station that day. There will be occasions when it's the next day before someone contacts you.

Malky

[GarySutherland]

I agree, a backward step but perhaps surprising that it has taken this long to get here.

Imagine trying to explain to someone on the other end of the line in Glasgow that you're in Tarbert *not* Tarbet and that you think there's someone trying to break into your house.

It seems that regardless of where you live in the UK the local taxes are going up whilst the quality of the services are going down.

Cheers
Gary

[DOUBLE A]

I agree, a backward step but perhaps surprising that it has taken this long to get here.

Imagine trying to explain to someone on the other end of the line in Glasgow that you're in Tarbert *not* Tarbet and that you think there's someone trying to break into your house.

It seems that regardless of where you live in the UK the local taxes are going up whilst the quality of the services are going down.

Cheers
Gary

Gary, the 999 system for emergency calls is still the same set up its only non emergency calls that go to the call centre.

And to answer the original post, a backward step

[GarySutherland]

The 999 system for emergency calls is still the same set up its only non emergency calls that go to the call centre.

Yes, I think I read that in the Courier or O/Times.

A lot of people don't like to ring 999 though, unless it's a 'real' emergency, which is quite right.

Cheers
Gary