Constabulary’s control room launches 5-Steps campaign

Hertfordshire Constabulary is launching a 5-Steps campaign to help the community understand how best to make contact with police depending on their service need.

A daily average of 500 999 calls and 1,000 101 calls are made to the constabulary’s Force Communications Room (FCR) with demand ever increasing.

FCR Chief Inspector Steve Alison, said: “The 5-Steps campaign gives an excellent guide to if, when and how the public should contact police.

“We’re asking people to use our online services and information whenever possible for non-emergency situations such as reporting damage-only road traffic collisions or criminal activity which is not actively in progress.

“We want to continue to ensure that as many of our call handlers as possible are available to answer those potentially life-threatening and crime in action 999 emergency calls rather than responding to enquiries which could be dealt with via online methods.

“Before contacting the police, consider is this the correct service for your enquiry?

“If you’re not sure if calling us is the correct avenue for your enquiry then, if possible, please check online, the information you are seeking could be there for you already via our website, a council website or another service provider.

“If you are wanting to report a crime which has already happened, and is not in progress, then use our online reporting facility to log it and obtain a crime reference number.

“Do you want to share some information with police? Please use our web chat service or, if that isn’t possible, call 101.

“If you are in an emergency situation, where there is life at risk or if you believe a crime is in action then of course continue to contact us immediately by calling 999.

“Thank you for your assistance.”

If you’re unsure if your enquiry is for police or another organisation you can find out by visiting the ask police website (opens in a new window).

You can report non-emergency crime, damage-only road traffic collisions and more online, speak to an operator in our FCR via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.

In an emergency situation call 999.

In addition to the 5 Steps campaign, the constabulary is currently recruiting call handlers. They work flexibly with shift work including weekends, and evenings/nights, to answer emergency and non-emergency calls and direct resources across the county. The starting salary is £29,331 inclusive of shift allowance, if you work full-time.

Find out more and apply now (opens in a new window) 

Photo details: Force Communication Room staff were at the Atria, Watford on Wednesday (19 April) engaging with members of the public about the 5 Steps Campaign.