Wiltshire Police say that the public using its website to report non-urgent crime would help the inevitable spike in demand this summer.
From today - 19 July - most covid restrictions have lifted meaning there is more freedom now, since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
For many, this is something to celebrate but Wiltshire police say they are likely to see a spike in demand and increases in calls for service.
Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith said: “Our message is so simple – the power to help us lies within every member of our community.
“If you are able to report an incident or access the information you need on our website, you will be playing your part in reducing the thousands of calls we get into our call centre each year.
“Throughout the covid pandemic, all police forces saw a reduction in crime as lockdown simply meant most people were living and working at home but we are now all expecting calls for our services to rapidly rise.
“We will always be here for you when you need us the most. All we are encouraging you to do is to ask yourself – can I access what I need online or do I need to call?”
A police spokesperson said: "we are here for you and we want you to contact us should you ever need to, but, from today we are asking you all a very simple question – Do you click or do you call?"
Every year the police estimate receiving almost 100,000 999 calls and as more than 50% of these were not urgent, 999 was not the right method of contact.
The police are asking our communities to remember: "For urgent crime, call 999. For everything else, start online."
The force says the public should only ever call 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress.
The non-emergency 101 number is estimated to receive almost 300,000 calls each year in addition to the 999 calls.
The spokesperson said: "You will be amazed at how much you can now do on our website. You can report non-urgent crime, access a range of services, get up-to-date information on whether we are the right agency to call and keep informed of our latest news and appeals.
"By starting your journey with us online, you have the power to reduce the demand we know we will face over the summer and far beyond."
Throughout the summer, Wiltshire Police will be sharing stories and showcasing what services are now available on the website.
The police encourage everyone to follow its social media channels and get involved with its campaign.
More information can be found at www.wiltshire.police.uk
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