PSNI urges public to use online reporting tool

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has encouraged the public to use its online reporting tool to report an incident or crime.

The service allows people to make a report anytime, anywhere, straightaway and without delay.

Around 27,200 reports were made online to the Police Service from 1st January 2023 to 1st January 2024 , while close to 499,642 ‘101' calls were made during the same time.

The online services takes people through a series of steps, including identifying whether the incident is an emergency.

Online reports are considered in live time, the same way as a 101 call and is triaged by a professionally trained call handler from a Contact Management Centre (CMC), just as 101 calls are.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: “So many of us use technology to do our daily business. Everyone wants to be able to do what they need to do at a time that suits them, and is quick and easy. We want to make sure people can contact us when they need us, and that we are here to help and respond to them as soon as possible, no matter where they are. Online reporting means there’s no waiting in a ‘101’ queue and people get an incident reference number straightaway. It’s a simple, quick and easy process, and we’re hoping for more people, online reporting will be the option they use rather than dial 101.”