(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

separate line for red deer

RCMP launches non-emergency call line to mark National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

Apr 16, 2025 | 10:01 AM

The City of Red Deer is asking residents and visitors to continue using the local non-emergency phone line while within city limits, as opposed to a new provincial line launched this week.

To recognize National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the Alberta RCMP has announced that Albertans can now make non-emergency police reports by calling 310-RCMP (310-7267).

The new function is intended to streamline the reporting process, improve the early stages of investigation and reduce unnecessary 911 calls.

But Red Deer is asking residents and people who need to call while within city limits, to continue using 403-406-2200 for non-emergency issues.

“When a call is received through the local police non-emergency line, it is answered by dispatchers at a local level,” says Peter Puszka, Red Deer Municipal Policing Services Superintendent. “Calls to the provincial number will be directed into the queue at the Provincial RCMP Operations Communications Centre.”

Prevention, Access, Recovery, and Coordination

Safe Harbour officially hands over shelter keys, establishes accessible navigation hub

17h ago

lacombe and sylvan lake

December 2025 (un)employment data released for Alberta sub-regions

19h ago

21 years with WCPS

Darcy Blum appointed principal of Lacombe Outreach School

20h ago

Chris Spence with the Operational Communications Centre for Alberta explains further.

“310-RCMP was created to help eliminate confusion about which detachment someone should call if they experience a non-emergency that doesn’t require police attendance,” he says.

“We encourage people to report non-emergencies as this helps us focus frontline efforts on high-priority calls and deploy resources in areas that need it most.”

RCMP dispatchers will determine when a non-emergency call should be dispatched directly to a detachment, or to the Alberta Call Back Unit (CBU). The CBU consists of officers whose main duty is to respond to and investigate files that don’t require officers to be on scene.

If there is a need for further investigation while handling these concerns, CBU officers will contact detachments or specialized units, police say.

There is no area code required to dial the number and long distance charges do not apply. The number is designed to be accessible to all Albertans within the province with a phone line or active mobile phone with a cellular signal.

According to the RCMP, non-emergencies:

• Do not pose an immediate or potential threat to life or public safety.
• Include crimes that have already taken place prior to being discovered.
• Often do not require police attendance, but do require police response.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Minor motor vehicle collisions.
• Break and enters that already took place.
• Scams in which money or personal information was not transferred or provided.
• Lost property.
• Property damage under $5,000.
• Theft under $5,000.

Aside from calling the new number, non-emergencies can also be reported online by downloading the RCMP app, or on the RCMP website by selecting “Online Crime Reporting” under “quick links.”

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week runs April 13-19. The event is intended to recognize the hard workers running Operational Communications Centres, the first point of contact for the public when seeking police assistance.