Victoria Police launch new number, hotline for non-emergencies
Victorians will be asked to report noise complaints and crimes such as property damage and theft to a new hotline number and website, with triple-0 to be used only for emergencies.
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A new non-emergency Victoria Police hotline has been launched today in a bid to encourage Victorians to use triple-0 only for life-threatening and immediate emergencies.
The 24-hour service will see a new number and assistance line as well as online reporting service for non-urgent crimes such as property damage, theft and noise complaints.
The hotline aims to better connect the general public and police, Victoria Police Acting Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said.
“These new avenues of contact to Victoria Police will be available 24/7, making it easier for the community to engage with police for non-emergency help, advice and support,” he said.
He said the new system would reduce the amount of time police spend taking reports on non-urgent crimes, and would allow police to better prioritise and respond to reported incidents.
About 30 per cent of calls to triple 0 were considered non-urgent, Acting Chief Commissioner Patton told 3AW.
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He said new line should not deter people for calling triple-0 for incidents of immediate nature.
The Police Assistance Line will be filtered by a team of civilian staff members are a contact centre in Ballarat, under the supervision of police officers.
A trial of the hotline began in February and has received over 70,000 calls.
From today, all non-urgent crimes should be directed the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or reported via the Victoria Police Online Reporting service.
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