Don't worry, I've got them already

yes and.....?

Sorry I got the impression you hadn't read the thread properly
There's no need now really as they are supplying an international access no +44 1604 888007 it's on their website.
They have now, finally removed reference to local rate on their website after my last email to them pointing out that Trading Standards  consider this description illegal.

Response received earlier today wrt my compliaint regarding the use of 0845:

<<
The Chief Constable has asked me to look into the issues you raised in your email of 24 February. Thank you for raising your concerns. I will not respond to your accusations of 'cluelessness' or 'incompetence'. Frankly such comments devalue the dialogue, are offensive, and distract from some of the valuable issues you have raised.

The introduction of the 08453 is predominantly about serving the people of Northamptonshire. Because of changes in technology, policing and centralisation of control rooms over the years, the Force had a legacy of over 4 different main numbers from different exchanges. It was technically impossible to introduce the kind of systems now required of us without a single number, and we did not want those people in the county living outside the 01604 range to suffer hikes in phone call charges to us. In addition, we were at our capacity for direct dial numbers. We also had to introduce a single number to comply with the Government's quite proper aspiration that within the next three years there would be a national single non-emergency number (SNEN). This moves us toward that.

We have checked with the local main telephony service providers for landline base phones and they have confirmed that our new 08453 number is indeed charged at local rates. Our view on mobile telephony is that the caller has the choice of contacting the police via a number of media (landline, mobile, email, and even text - something we are investigating) and so when ringing on non-emergency business, it is down to the caller to make the choice of landline or mobile, and a note has been added to publicity to warn callers that charges from mobile networks may vary. However, we have also contacted the five main mobile cellular telephony providers and have confirmed that the maximum/worst case scenarios for charges to call an 08453 number are as follows:

Three Mobile = 15p /min flat charge
Orange = 10p/ min - 35p/ min (dependant on tariff)
Vodaphone = 12p/ min - 15p/ min
O2 = 8p/ min
T- Mobile - 10p/ min - 40p/ min (pay as you go being the maximum)
Virgin - 10p/ min - 15p/ min


We do not consider these to be any more prohibitive than other choices offered to mobile telephone users.

I can confirm that no revenue to Northamptonshire Police is raised by introduction of this number, although there may be in-house savings in due course as we will be able to release costly direct dial number rentals. So it isn't the case that there is a payment to the police to profit from the use of the 08453 number. That information will also be noted on our website or material publicising the number, so that this suspicion is allayed, if indeed it was there.

I take your point entirely regarding contact from overseas. Whilst we do not have much communication from overseas via the telephone (most comes via the website), we have now published a non 08453 DDI telephone number to field those calls. This is detailed on the website and should answer your concern in that regard,

We have independently asked the local Trading Standards Office to examine our website and procedures. Whilst we are not subject to some of the ASA regulations on the matter, we wanted to stick to the spirit of the guidance on use of SNENs, and we have been assured that these matters are being handled properly and that we are compliant, in line with the many other forces and organisations (like Trading Standards) who offer 'local-rate' numbers.

Whilst you may not agree with the use of the 0853 number, I hope that this answers the more direct and salient points you raised with the Chief Constable, who has been briefed on this matter.

Your email was extremely useful - thank you for contacting us. I am not intending to write to the agencies and individuals you copied in on your email, but I will, of course, brief Police Authority colleagues on our response to you, and you are, of course,  free to pass on these comments to your contacts.
>>

idb wrote on Mar 3^rd, 2006 at 10:50pm:


Are you going to attempt to challenge the continued commission by the Police of an Offence under Part III of the Consumer Protection Act 1987?

See 

Para 1.3 Page 1 of www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/oftel_0845/responses/leicester_cc.pdf

and

www.asa.org.uk/cap/news_events/news/2005/Hanging+on+the+telephone+on+and+on+and+ on.htm

and

www.asa.org.uk/cap/news_events/news/2005/Stop+the+call+confusion.htm

and

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=28872%09%09%09%09%09%09%09&...; amp;SESSION=875

and

www.cap.org.uk/cap/news_events/news/2005/CAP+rings+the+changes+for+telecoms+prov iders.htm

and Pages 5 and 6 of the below minutes from my own district council where we agreed policy to stop the future use of 0845 and 0870 numbers.

www.molevalley.gov.uk/media/pdf/1/s/Council_Minutes_190705.pdf

saynonto0871 wrote on Mar 4^th, 2006 at 8:13am:


There seems to be a great deal of similarity between the use of 084 and 087 numbers and the story of the Emperors New Clothes I often feel.  That is that the camp followers just go along with the rubbish that they think will impress their superiors regardless of the actual truth.

I suggest idb and 0871 draw this latest falsehood to the attention of all of the members of the local Police Authority.

Interesting to read that Northampton Police are insisting that calls to 0845 are charged at Local Rate. This must be something that BT are now spinning because I recently spoke to a company about their claim that their 0845 no was charged at Local Rate. Their reply was that since BT had recently reduced the rate of 0845 at peak time to 3p per minute it did equate to a local rate call! (also equates to any call of course but local rate served their purpose) I replied that that was as may be but was excluded from my inclusive package-their reply was that that was outside their control and whilst they understood my concern and could not understand, as 0845 was now the same price, why it was excluded suggested I take the matter up with my phone supplier or Ofcom. At the very least seems a better spin than the police. Any ideas on this new spin on 0845?

New development, website amended as follows:
Calls to 0845 numbers from a fixed line are charged to a maximum of 5p per minute. Network Tariffs apply when calling 0845 numbers from a mobile phone. Northamptonshire Police does not profit from the provision of this number

Price up to 5p/min

Northampton police does not profit.....

Ha, they've either been taken for a ride big time & signed a really crap contract which allows the telecoms supplier to print money or the the cost of the contract for telecoms services was artificially low due to projected the call revenue.

So they're either p1ssing tax payers money don the drain or they're getting profit in kind.

FOI request Re: call revenues and telecoms contracts anyone?