101 was today confirmed as the new telephone number for the public to secure advice and action on community safety and anti-social behaviour issues.

Newspapers last weekend reported the lesser-crime system would be introduced but the Home Office today confirmed the number would be 101. The Home Office also confirmed the price for each call would be ten pence, whether from landlines or mobiles.

The service is designed to improve the delivery of non-emergency services by ensuring a better co-ordinated response by local agencies, while freeing up the 999 service to handle emergency incidents. The official name will be the Single Non-Emergency Number service (SNEN).

It will be provided by local authorities and police forces working together to deliver services and handle calls. The new three-digit number will initially be launched in five 'Wave 1' areas this summer and will be rolled out across England and Wales by 2008.

The 101 service has been set up to give the public direct access to the services they want. The initial scope of the service has been developed through research with the general public, and in consultation with local authority and police force partnerships.

The core service will cover:

• Vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property
• Noisy neighbours
• Intimidation and harassment
• Abandoned vehicles
• Rubbish and litter, including fly tipping
• People being drunk or rowdy in public places
• Drug related anti-social behaviour
• Street lighting

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said: "Vandalism, graffiti, dumped rubbish, fly-tipping, abandoned cars, relentless noise and nuisance neighbours all have a long-lasting and corrosive effect on the quality of people's lives. The SNEN represents significant new investment to strengthen community engagement and tackle the anti-social behaviour that blights local communities."

"This will mean that 999 services can function more effectively and provide a faster response to emergency incidents."

SNEN operators will deal with enquiries over the phone by giving advice and information where needed, arranging for action to be taken when appropriate or by directing the caller to a person or organisation who can help them. They will also work alongside the 999 service - SNEN operators will be able to direct callers to the 999 emergency service if the call needs an emergency response.