CLOGGED-UP police phone lines could be a thing of the past in North Yorkshire if long-term tests of a new non-emergency number prove a success.

North Yorkshire Police has volunteered to spearhead trials of the non-emergency number, set up in response to growing pressure on the 999 system.

York and North Yorkshire residents have repeatedly complained about difficulties getting through to the police to report non-urgent incidents.

People calling the new number would be diverted to their local police station to report crimes which do not need immediate attention, such as thefts from gardens or cars.

The 999 system would continue to operate as it does now. The force has denied national newspaper reports that it was poised to adopt a specific "888" number for the non-emergency calls.

Force spokesman Tony Lidgate said that trials of the new number in North Yorkshire were about 18 months away. He said: "The idea is we have a national non-emergency number. At the moment there are technical and financial implications which are being worked on." Mr Lidgate said there was no link between problems the North Yorkshire force has had with its call handling and the new number trials.

Earlier this year York and Selby area commander Chief Superintendent John Lacy attacked his own force's call handling centre after a string of complaints from the public. York's Labour MP Hugh Bayley said the police must deliver a better service.

North Yorkshire Police deputy chief constable, Peter Walker, has said the force aimed to answer 999 calls within five seconds, but stressed non-urgent callers might face a wait.

He said the force had employed 40 new telephone operators and a new system was in place to ease the work burden on front-line call handlers.

Updated: 11:09 Tuesday, August 05, 2003