The Government has unveiled plans to urge victims of minor crime to text the police rather than call 999.
The service would be for non-emergency crimes and include criminal damage, graffiti, anti-social behaviour, theft and low-level burglary. The police will reply by text message with a non-emergency phone number and details of local police or community support officers. The calls will be answered by an operator, who will take details of the complaint. A police officer must address the complaint and call back within 24 hours. If no officer is available, callers can leave answer phone messages.
I have to admit, as a recent victim of burglary I wouldn’t be happy waiting 24 hours for a call back or indeed leaving an answer phone message. However, it does provide a means of contacting the police that is more in touch with an increasingly mobile world.