THE NEW number for Sussex Police was launched with a bang this morning.

From now on, non-emergency callers should ring 0845 60 70 999 rather than calling individual stations with complaints or inquiries.

Ahuge firework demonstration at police headquarters in Lewes put the new number up in lights.

Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse was joined by Argus columnist Derek Jameson, who said: "Having one number is a great idea because people will always know the number to get through to."

As Mr Whitehouse, also joined by BT's crime and justice department manager, pressed the detonator, he said: "The single number replaces the 28 different ones we have used in the past. It will be a better service for callers and it could help save lives. In the past we have had so many different numbers it has led to confusion. Some people have got round it by dialling 999 when there is no real emergency.

"The danger with that is a real life-threatening 999 call might be kept waiting as a result."

For Derek the launch of the new service, the first of its kind in the country, had a special poignancy.

He was with the police around the time of the death of PC Jeff Tooley.

Emergency callers should still ring 999 and Crimestoppers, the hotline for information about crimes, is still on 0800 555111.

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