to think that 101 is for reporting police matters, which do NOT include

[Fideliney]

teenagers innocently entering parks, people removing their clothes in their own bedrooms or legally parked cars on public roads?

Bloomin was she challenged for a more sensible answer?

different exactly!

Okay even the cigarette butt - would depend on circumstances. If it had been a very hot dry period (so not this year) - then actually I can see a point of calling 101.

My local police are great and I think one of the best police forces I have ever had to deal with. Other areas are not as good; and I have similar stories of them not caring less about reported crime - eg. car theft, where they only wanted to give me a crime number and were not in the slightest interested in me giving them a description of the people who had carried out the crime.

Actually the biggest drawback to moving would be to leave my current police area.

man walking down the street with a hat pulled down to just above his eyes and a scarf pulled up over his nose and a hat on. I have since seen him a number of times and it appears that he gets dressed up like that so he can rap to himself while walking

What? How is that a crime?

hes just Ill. or quirky
or A CELEBRITY RAPPER

No its not a crime, it is suspicious behaviour. We live in a very sleepy town so best to report any suspicious behaviour.

I think some people on this thread are proving the point well!

my elderly fil walks round with his hat pulled down low (to keep him warm) and a scarf over his mouth and nose. He has COPD and cold air in his face gives him terrible coughing attacks.

I had no idea he was menacing people but now every time I see him out walking I'll be imagining him rapping away to himself!

I am on the OP on "t'other thread". Perfectly happy to accept calling 101 for what was described is not appropriate.

Seeing this thread title made me think: I don't actually know what is appropriate to call 101 for. 999, yes. 101, no.

So I thought I'd better educate myself by looking at the Police UK website advice. Given what has been said on this thread, I was a bit so urprised to see described as an appropriate instance to call:

Speak to the police about a general enquiry

Article does proceed to rule out dog fouling, abandoned vehicles, fly tipping and vandalism as relevant material for a call.

www.police.uk/contact/101/

Thanks Pumpkin I didn't actually mean this to be a TAAT. Just a bit shocked at what people seem to think 101 IS for.

Fom your link;

When should I use 101?

You should call 101 to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response. For example, if:

Your car has been stolen
Your property has been damaged
You suspect drug use or dealing in your neighbourhood

Or to:

Report a minor traffic collision
Give the police information about crime in your area
Speak to the police about a general enquiry

from the government website

When should I use 101?

You should call 101 to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response. For example, if:

Your car has been stolen
Your property has been damaged
You suspect drug use or dealing in your neighbourhood
Or to:

Report a minor traffic collision
Give the police information about crime in your area
Speak to the police about a general enquiry

What about nuisance or environmental issues?

You should continue to contact your local council about general issues in your area like:

Dog fouling
Abandoned vehicles
Dumping and fly tipping
Vandalism of public property
For information about how to contact your local council please visit www.gov.uk/find-your-local-councilopens in a new window.

X-post! Spent too long focusing on formatting

It is beautifully formatted Blood

I still don't get why a man covering his face with a scarf and hat would be considered a police matter however sleepy your area is

No bother. Initially, I did feel this was a bit of a TAAT but then thought, "no she's right, I don't know when is appropriate and that's my problem."

I've never exactly a frequent flyer on the calling the police front, but have called the local police station a couple of times in the past (non naked men related!). . I guess my thinking was, "Great, don't need to bother digging out that number anymore - can just call 101."

I don't watch much TV so would have missed any 101 awareness raising campaigns featured on broadcast media. But I don't recall even seeing anything in print or the BBC news. They do feature shouldn't be funny but are abuse of 999 articles from time to time but haven't noticed anything on 101.

Interesting that the Police UK blurb talks about calling 101 for "crimes and other concerns ." The bit about "concerns" sort of implies non criminal matters to my mind although, aside from "general enquiries", the examples they give are all criminal in nature.

I think stating "general enquiries" is a bit silly. You'll get people phoning up to ask the opening hours of the local tanning salon.

"Both times I was told that unless I could name the perpetrators they weren't police matters."
"Vandalism of public property"

I live in a high crime area of Liverpool, we have shootings, drug dealing, and violent attacks, daily.

Just for fun, the local lads put peoples windows in, damage cars. We regularly have a mobile Police Station at the top of my road, despite being within five minutes of two Police Stations.

It's a bit quieter because quite a few are dead or in jail at the moment, others are lying low.

Our local Tesco express has to close at 9pm because the Police cannot guarantee it's safety, from 10-17 year olds.

We are told to report everything on our local Police number, which we do, there is always a Matrix can close by that will do a patrol.

The threads on her have been ridiculous.

But in some areas, the Police need the public to keep a lid on things.

If you've never lived in an area like this, you probably wouldn't believe it.

We can't have community patrols because the lads use them as target practice, including firing fireworks at them.

YANBU

In fact i was thinking the same thing.

It's like the new LTB. Doesn't matter what the op has said, it's still trotted out.

"The bit about "concerns" sort of implies non criminal matters to my mind "

See were I live a "non criminal matter" is a criminal matter waiting to happen.

We know the lads that are out on bikes are scouting for trouble, or the parcel just placed in the bushes are weapons to be picked up later.

I had knives hidden behind my bin wrapped in towels, but I didn't report, because I would be moved out of my house, I ignored them and they were moved.

The lads ride on ahead checking for police presence and slowly move the gear.

We have stop and search polices in my area, which are needed but easily got around unless we are all on board.

Local PCSO numbers should be publicised a bit more, I think. They are are a faff to look up.

I know what you mean about not watching TV. I didn't have a set for five years at one point and missed allsorts.

I once called 101 about something that turned out to be a council matter (dead dog in the middle of a busy dual carriageway) and they put me straight through to the right line, I was speaking to the police for maybe 30 seconds.

Obviously it would be better for phone calls to be made to the right number in the first place, but if they're all the same as my local one, they can do 'We'll put you through to the council' and hang up pretty damn quickly.

Well the police have always thanked me for my phone calls! I used to drive around a lot at various times of day and night so if I saw anything suspicious or out of place I would let them know. They are nothing but grateful for that.

Yanbu

'Call 101' seems to have become the new 'LTB'

I would have thought vandalism would have been a police matter - perhaps if you witness the vandalism in progress? Or if it is vandalism of private property I assume that is a police matter. Other than that the list of non police matters are as I had thought.

General police enquiry is quite open- so surely if you are worried that something is wrong you can at least ask the right people and they can assess need against resources.

I wonder what the difference between vandalism and criminal damage is anyhow? Or isn't there a difference?

What did you say 'There's a darkie in town! And he's wearing a hat. Come quickly!'