• Uncategorised
  • 0

Talking Telephone Numbers

I have mentioned 999 before. The UK government is now piloting a new non emergency number – 101. The idea is that this will take the strain off 999, as it will be a central pint for reporting various nuisances. Currently to talk to your local police you have to go to the station (where ever it is, whenever it is open) or you can phone them. But the phone number is going to be 0845 or 0870, so this costs you a lot. and then there is probably a queue…. so you have a few options. press ahead with calling the number, or don’t bother at all, or hey, just call 999…..

But, is it really a good idea?

So is a new number going to reduce stupid calls to 999? is it going to generate lots more calls which previously people would not have bothered with? will it generate so many calls that you cannot get through? will calls be made to 101 that should be to 999?

Of course the only way to answer these questions is to pilot it… and see how it goes. One hopes that there are enough resources to ensure the system doesn’t topple over to begin with. the system can always be scaled back later….

Isn’t it Ironic, that in this world of ease of communications, the hardest bit is working out who to communicate with, and then the signal to noise ratio?

You may also like...