Devon and Cornwall Police are advising the public on how they can contact them without having to call 101.

Throughout the summer, the campaign by D&C Police will be looking to help reduce demand on its non-emergency line by offering up alternate ways in which people can get in touch with the police.

The new campaign, 'Whichever way you choose to contact us, #ItsPersonal,' aims to educate residents and visitors to the area about the different ways to contact the police and explain that every contact the force receives about a policing issue is answered by a member of our team, whether it’s online or by phone.

The launch will coincide with the May bank holiday and schools’ half term break, which often brings more people to Devon and Cornwall.

Police have claimed this increase in visitors leads to a rise in calls to the 101 non-emergency number, which can inevitably impact on waiting times.

By reassuring anyone who wants to make contact with the police, be that online or over the phone, that it is a real person dealing with their query, it is hoped more people will choose to use the online contact options and there will be a reduction in the non-emergency call waiting times.

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D&C Police are hoping that, if more people use our online contact methods, it would leave the phone lines free for those who might not have access to the internet when they need to contact them.

Anyone wishing to contact us with non-emergency queries or reports can easily access the online methods – WebChat, Report Crime Online and Email 101.

  • WebChat - dc.police.uk/webchat

WebChat allows you to talk online directly with police contact centres.

The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be used to ask questions, report non-urgent crime, and receive updates on existing crime.

  • Report Crime Online - dc.police.uk/reportcrime

Report Crime Online is a way to report information or report an incident or crime.

Users will need to record all the details on the online form then submit it via the website.

Police contact centre staff will receive the form, record the crime, and provide users with a crime reference number.

  • Email 101 - 101@dc.police.uk

Email 101 to ask a question, tell police something or report non-urgent crime.

The email service is monitored daily, and contact centre staff will respond as soon as possible.

Alternatively, our contact centre staff are available to answer your calls day or night should you still wish to call.

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Police have also recommended that, before calling the 101 non-emergency number, users should visit its website to check the current waiting times – dc.police.uk/contact

Commander for Contact and Command Resolution, Chief Superintendent Ian Drummond-Smith, 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 crime 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 Devon and Cornwall 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 - WebChat, Report Crime Online and Email 101.

"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."

Devon & Cornwall Police also have the non-emergency directory - AskNED –dc.police.uk/AskNED which helps answer the most-commonly asked questions.

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