Burgled? Don’t try dialling 111

queue but we do want to educate people that we’re reserving that 111 service for people who need help and now.’’

While people might protest about speaking to operators from outside their area, research had shown most of those calls were inquiries and not about local issues, he said.

‘‘What we can assure the public is it will be predictable and when they need to get back to a local person then we’ll absolutely be able to do that.’’

While McSkimming wouldn’t be drawn on what the number would be, he said there would be significant advertising and information when it was launched to the public.

‘‘We’ll be reminding people 111 is for emergencies and the new number is for everything else.’’

Half of the 12 police districts had already switched to the system and six, non-sworn, telephonists around the country had lost their jobs.

Last week, police announced a new non-emergency communications and digital centre would be set up in Paraparaumu, on the Ka¯ piti Coast.

The centre would create 120 new jobs expected to be filled by the end of 2019 and McSkimming said police had been inundated with applicants.

The centre would initially operate between 8am and 11pm but, like the Auckland service, would eventually run round the clock. ‘‘Everything going to plan, we’ll have our opening in November and 50 people trained and on site by Christmas.’’

Last week, a police spokeswoman said police received funding for the centralised system as part of a government package announced last year.