Police urge public to use new call line

A leading Wimmera police officer has encouraged people across the region to make the most of new Police Assistance Line number 131 444.

Acting Inspector Brendan Broadbent said the new number, for non-emergency situations, represented an extra tier of police service and should work well in regional areas.

“It’s about providing another option for people to contact police for help or advice but falls well short of being a Triple Zero, 000, emergency,” he said.

“It might be about reporting a crime while someone has been away on holiday, concerns about a noisy party or just about getting some advice.

“It’s just another pathway for people to contact police while taking non-emergency issues off the Triple Zero line.”

Acting Inspector Broadbent said the call line should also work well in regional or remote areas where someone might struggle to get in touch with their district officer. “If people ring a rural station and can’t get through because a member is away or out of the station, they now have this other option which ensures the issue is reported,” he said.

“We want all types of crime and issues requiring police attention reported because this gives us a clearer understanding of what’s happening in our area.

“The service frees up local people to focus on local issues.”

The 131 444 Police Assistance Line operates 24 hours, seven days a week based on an aim to improve response management and provision of police services throughout the community.

Victoria Police has stressed that people should continue to call Triple Zero, 000, immediately in response to an incident that is life-threatening, needs immediate police attendance, if a crime is happening at that moment or if an offender remains in the area of a caller.