POLICE have launched a new campaign to attempt to reduce demand on the 101 non-emergency telephone service.

The initiative – whichever way you choose to contact police, #Its Personal – aims to educated visitors to the area about the different ways to contact Dorset Police.

The launch will coincide with the May bank holiday and the half term break, which often brings more people to Dorset. This increase in visitors leads to a rise in calls to our 101 non-emergency number, which can inevitably impact on waiting times.

Dorset Police said however people get in touch, their query will be dealt with by a real person, with the hope more people will choose online options.

Anyone wishing to contact the force with non-emergency queries or reports can go report crimes, make enquiries, report anti-social behaviour and request a call back by visiting dorset.police.uk.do-it-online. They can also email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk.

Superintendent Jared Parkin from Dorset Police, Head of the Force Command Centre, said: “Over the last few years we have been encouraging people to go online and this has been very successful with many people contacting us through our online reporting options.

“However, for many people they think going online to report a crime or incident will just be an automated process, but it is actually the same contact centre staff who manage and respond to our online contact options as answer our non-emergency telephone number. So, the service they receive is just as personal whether it be through our online contact option or by phone.

“We are expecting to see an increase in people contacting the police over the next week, as there will be more people visiting and staying in Dorset due to the public and school holiday and many deciding to stay in the UK for their holiday this year.

“We would therefore ask anyone needing to contact us, if it’s not an emergency, to use one of the online contact options – Report Crime Online, make a general enquiry or email us, report anti-social behaviour or request a call-back. By choosing to use one of these options your enquiry will be answered by a member of the team and you will be helping to keep the phone lines free for people without internet access.”

In an emergency, when life is threatened, people are injured, offenders are nearby or immediate action is required, always dial 999.