IT’S 09/09/09.

And today, a senior police officer is using the unique date to drive home the message that 999 isn’t the only number people can ring to report a crime in Kirklees.

Huddersfield Inspector Mark Broadhead is reminding people if it’s not an emergency then dial 0845 6060606.

The calls are answered in Wakefield and a message taken so that the team of local officers at the contact management unit at Huddersfield police station can call back.

They deal with between 100 and 150 calls from across Kirklees each day.

Insp Broadhead oversees the operation at the Castlegate station.

He told the Examiner about the advantages of using the non-emergency number.

He said: “Part of the Policing Pledge is to offer the public a good customer service.

“Our officers based in Huddersfield will call back straight away to arrange an appointment that suits the caller.

“Sometimes it’s not convenient for the caller to be seen straight away – they might have to go and pick the kids up from school.

“So an appointment can be made for an appropriate time.

“We try to arrange a meeting within 48 hours of their original call.

“But we’ll also ask them if they want an officer to call round or whether they just want some advice.”

Twenty members of staff work at the unit, manning the phones from 7am until 11pm, seven days a week.

Insp Broadhead said: “The staff are a very dedicated and professional.

“To run the computer system you have got to have a lot of knowledge.

“You cannot just walk in and sit down and do it. They are all given thorough training.”

Most of the police officers working in the call centre live in the Kirklees area and have worked in the police division.

Insp Broadhead said: “They know the area well and can deploy the correct neighbourhood policing team.

“For example, if there was a report of criminal damage in Batley – a call would be made to a member of the local neighbourhood policing team to investigate it.

“An officer could be round the corner in the next street and be there in 10 minutes to try and detect the crime.

“That officer will know the area well and probably have an idea of repeat offenders who may have been involved.”

Small thefts, criminal damage discovered after the incident, cases of anti-social behaviour and non-violent disputes with neighbours are all examples of non-emergencies.

In case of emergency always call 999.

In case of a non-emergency call 0845 6060606.