NORTH Yorkshire Police could be set to change its non-emergency telephone number - because campaigners claim it is costing the public too much money.

The police force says it is making no money from telephone calls to its 0845 60 60 247 number.

But campaigners say it is still costing money for members of the public who do not have BT landlines, and particularly those who call from mobile phones.

A Freedom of Information request shows the force is actually paying out almost £10,000 a year for incoming calls from people living outside the area. The police foot the bill for the difference between the local and national rate.

A recent circular from the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) sent to forces throughout the country warned of "increasing public concerns over the use by the service of 0845 prefixed telephone numbers for non-emergency police contact".

It pointed out those numbers no longer charge all calls at local rates, and are now often more expensive than the traditional 01 and 02 numbers they replaced.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "When our non-emergency telephone number was originally introduced, the cost of a call was based on local rates from a BT landline.

"However, following research by the Association of Chief Police Officers we understand that some additional costs have been incurred by the public when phoning from other service providers.

"This is out of the control of North Yorkshire Police and applies to all forces using a similar number.

"Consideration is currently being given to changing the number in an effort to minimise the additional costs.

"However, the process is at the very early stages and must take into account the cost, benefit and practical implications of any change.

"We are committed to providing the best possible service to the people of North Yorkshire and are constantly reviewing our services to ensure we provide value for money."

The non-emergency line used by the public to contact North Yorkshire Police takes more than 600,000 calls a year.

Campaigner Dave Lindsay, a 28-year-old security officer and computer expert, said: "Calls to the 0845 60 60 247 number can be significantly more expensive than geographical calls, especially from mobile phones.

"This disadvantages the least well-off in society who may not have their own landline.

"In addition, the force is charged almost £10,000 per annum for the number and calls to it. Other forces receive revenue payments from their 0845 number, and the cost to the caller is the same regardless. It seems like North Yorkshire Police have a poor deal."

The problem can be solved by replacing the 8 in the current phone number with a 3, putting it on a different tariff that would not allow the police to share revenue from the service.

Acpo has warned that those who do not switch should drop any claim that their 0845 number is charged at local rate.

Some landline providers charge up to with six pence per minute at all times for calls to 0845 numbers, plus a seven pence connection charge.