People in Dorset are being asked to check whether they need to contact the police before they report any incidents this New Year.
Call handlers receive thousands of calls every year asking for help which the police are unable to give, such as noisy neighbours and lost dogs.
Dorset Police is now urging people to remember the slogan “When something’s wrong - Report it right” to ensure callers get the best help from the most appropriate service and without taking up the time of police staff who may otherwise be dealing with more urgent queries.
Chief Superintendent Gavin Dudfield, of Dorset Police, said: “We work extremely hard with our partners to provide the best possible service to people in the county, but we need members of the public to make sure they are reporting their issues to the right organisation.
“We see a significant number of calls reporting issues relating to parking, noisy neighbours and lost dogs which should be reported to the local council or other agencies.
“We want you to get the help you need as soon as possible and save you time. So, please try to speak with the right people from the start.”
Examples of concerns which police cannot help with include:
- Noise Pollution
(This is dealt with by the Environmental Health Department of your local council.)
- Lost or found dogs
(The local dog warden should be able to help with this.)
- Bad Parking
(The council’s parking enforcement department deals with this.)
- Legal Advice
(Citizens Advice may be able to help with this.)
- Power Outages
(There is a dedicated emergency line – 105 – for power cuts.)
Of course, when there is an emergency or crime in progress, people should still call 999 and non-urgent incidents can be reported online via our website at Report | Dorset Police or by calling 101.