Like many modern police forces, Derbyshire Constabulary is committed to providing its local communities with an effective, caring service that is also good value for money. As such the force is always looking for ways to improve the service it offers.

Traditionally the Constabulary's call traffic was handled by another supplier with some calls being routed over the police national network (PNN2). However, Derbyshire felt there was room for improvement of its existing service and was keen to reduce call charges where possible and implement better connectivity to the UK core telephone network.

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Peter Mitchell, the force's telecommunications manager explains: "Members of the public had to dial any one of four different geographically-based telephone numbers across the county in order to access the Constabulary's non-emergency services," he says. "This led to confusion and, on many occasions, people dialled 999 instead and so tied up vital emergency lines."

To simplify contact with local police, a single telephone number for non-emergency calls was introduced for use across the whole of Derbyshire. Members of the public can call this cost-effective 0845 number to reach a call centre operator who can quickly help them with their enquiry.

if you call the 0845 number today (Sunday) it will only cost ½p/min