A LLANBADARN councillor has won the backing of MP Ben Lake and Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn in his fight to make calls to the police’s 101 number free of charge.

Cllr Paul James said he had only learnt of the 15p charge for 101 non-emergency calls when he checked his mobile phone bill.

He said he cannot understand why 999 calls are free and 101 calls are chargeable and has now enlisted the support of Mr Lake in his battle to get the 15p fee scrapped.

Cllr James said: “It is unfair, especially when police forces encourage residents to call 101 rather than use 999, which of course is understandable but in my opinion unfair when phone companies charge for this essential service that could save someone’s life.

“In the future they may not use it due to cost implications.

“The College of Policing’s website has more information on 101 and it does state the call costs, however I’d estimate that the vast majority of the public wouldn’t visit this site and therefore, won’t be aware of this charge.

“If you call 101 from a mobile it seems that 101 isn’t included in your free minute allocation and different service providers charge differently.”

Mr Lake lodged a series of questions to the Home Office and said he backed Cllr James’s call for the charges, which are imposed by the Home Office and not by individual police forces, to be abandoned.

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