Labour back down on Non-emergency number for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot

12.00.00am GMT Thu 6th Dec 2007

The promise of a non-emergency hotline to take pressure off blue-light services was dashed by the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government last night (Wednesday), as Welsh Liberal Democrats pushed for it to be rolled out across Wales.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Social Justice spokesperson Peter Black AM said: "Labour's General Election manifesto in 2005 stated that they would roll out a non-emergency 101 number across the country to deal with nuisance problems, and take the pressure off 999.

"We have seen a successful pilot in Cardiff, which won support from the police, the council and even the Home Office judged it to be a success. It reduced pressure on emergency services and gave people a number to ring to deal with non-urgent problems such as noisy neighbours, rubbish in the street or graffiti.

"The scheme proved invaluable during Bonfire Night and Halloween. But the Government refused to extend the scheme. The Welsh Liberal Democrats in the Assembly called for the Labour-Plaid Government to work with the Police and local councils to make this scheme work in Wales, but they voted against it.

"This was a Labour election pledge in 2005. Labour in Westminster have broken their promise and now Labour and Plaid in the Assembly have backed out. This is a service designed to ease the workload for 999 services, and give local people a new service to tackle nuisance problems. It's exactly the kind of service we need in Wales, and provides great value for money. It's a shame Labour won't support a great service for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot."