Bushey residents were given a tour of Hertfordshire Constabulary’s headquarters on Wednesday after a resident complained about being left hanging on the phone.

During the last Bushey crime reduction group (CRG) meeting, resident Gerry McCormick revealed he had been left disappointed with the response of the non-emergency number.

Loran Kingston, support officer for Hertsmere Borough Council, said: “I arranged the visit after those discussions.

“Members of the group were given an idea of what happens behind the scenes, when either a 999 or non-emergency call is received and how the resources are deployed.”

The constabulary's communication room was opened in 2007 and since then has been observed by more than ten other police forces in order to model it for themselves.

Jason Baxter, assistant manager, said: “Before the new building, if your non-emergency call got answered at all, or if your 999 call got answered in under a minute you were lucky.

“We are rightfully proud of our call handling, we have come a long way.”

Miki Colne, Bushey North councillor, said: “Any misconceptions about the length of time it takes to answer the non-emergency line have been cleared up.”

Hertfordshire Constabulary’s County Communication Room is situated at Police Head Quarters, Stanborough Road, Welwyn.

The next Bushey crime reduction group meeting will take place at Queens School, Aldenham Road, on Wednesday, December 2, at 7.30pm.