Police lag behind in answering calls

Criticism comes as the police ask for more money

A Home Office minister has agreed that Devon and Cornwall's police force is taking too long to answer some non-emergency calls.

The problem was highlighted in a Commons debate led by Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives.

He told MPs that local people had had a "severe dent put in their confidence" while waiting for their calls to be answered.

The force is aiming for 90% of calls to be answered within 10 seconds.

Many people who report matters to the police are deeply frustrated by the experience they have had

Andrew George

Police cash call

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, a police watchdog, has already raised concerns about the force's performance in answering calls which was among the worst in England and Wales.

According to the latest available police figures, in 2000-2001 the force answered 224,879 999 calls, of which 84.5% were answered within 10 seconds.

Mr George said: "Many of my constituents, local authorities, parish councils and neighbourhood watch groups have all complained about the way in which this system works.

"Many people who report matters to the police are deeply frustrated by the experience they have had."

'Unacceptable' waiting

Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth said the force had recently reached its targets for answering 999 calls - to achieve as a minimum an 80% satisfaction level with the time taken.

But he acknowledged there was room for improvement when it came to non-emergency calls.

He said: "I agree that the waiting times remain unacceptable and I can understand why the management of call handling within the force has caused some concern within the local community."

The criticism came as Devon and Cornwall police chiefs called for an extra £20.5m to cut crime.

The increase will mean average Band D council tax payers being asked to fork out an extra £30 a year.