February 2008
New Police Hotline
110 is the three-digit combination drummed into every German child as soon as each knows how to use a telephone. That is the national emergency number to reach the police. (In case of fire, call 112.) Unfortunately, in recent years many citizens have started to dial 110 merely seeking advice or to report trivial matters. Refusing such callers in an attempt to keep the line open for real emergencies was no long-term solution. Now, a new hotline serving all citizens’ demands has opened. At 29 10 19 10 the Munich Police Department records complaints, deals with problems within its fields of responsibility, and answers all questions concerning their work. If the lines are busy, an answering machine asks for the caller’s telephone number and a return call is made as soon as possible. Obviously incoming calls on the 110-line have priority. <<<
