To get in touch with the police in the United Kingdom, you now have more than one option than dialing 9-1-1 (or, in the case of the British, 9-9-9): Scotland Yard is testing out a new mode of crime reporting, one conducted over the free calling and instant messenger service Skype.

The first city due to demo the new type of reporting mode will be the city of Peterborough, located in Cambridgeshire. The Skype service is not meant to be used for dire emergencies — callers are still expected to use the regular dial-a-bobby route — but will instead be implemented to use for things like standard procedural interviews and crime reports, all by dialing 101 for a non-emergency line.

Part of the program's obvious utility is the diminished legwork for police officers, which can take up a large portion of their day-to-day, but it also works in favor for whomever is filing the report or being interviewed as well.

"We understand people have busy lives and this service will provide flexibility, with appointments from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week," noted a spokesperson for the Peterborough PD, making the entire enterprise a time-saver for all parties.

While the new app use will not make in-person interactions with police obsolete, it definitely sounds like an efficient aide in law enforcement, making it easier to bring in the real baddies.

Via: Slashgear