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101 and 111 non-emergency numbers 'restored' after fault 101 and 111 non-emergency numbers 'restored' after fault
(35 minutes later)
Non-emergency police and NHS phone numbers have been "restored", Vodafone has said, after technical issues affected services for about four hours. Non-emergency police and NHS phone numbers have been "restored", Vodafone has said, after technical issues affected services for several hours.
At least 23 police forces - including all four Welsh forces and the Met Police - reported problems with the 101 line from 09:00 GMT on Saturday.At least 23 police forces - including all four Welsh forces and the Met Police - reported problems with the 101 line from 09:00 GMT on Saturday.
The 111 NHS line was also down. Lines were fixed by 13:00 GMT, Vodafone said.The 111 NHS line was also down. Lines were fixed by 13:00 GMT, Vodafone said.
The company, which operates the police and NHS lines, apologised and said it would carry out a "full investigation".The company, which operates the police and NHS lines, apologised and said it would carry out a "full investigation".
"Our engineers have worked hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and services have now been restored," Vodafone said."Our engineers have worked hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and services have now been restored," Vodafone said.
It said it would continue to monitor the service closely, adding: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused."It said it would continue to monitor the service closely, adding: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused."
'Catastrophic failure' Emergency calls to 999 number were unaffected, police and health officials said.
'Technical problem'
The 101 phone number is for local police in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, for less urgent matters than a 999 call.The 101 phone number is for local police in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, for less urgent matters than a 999 call.
111 is a 24-hour medical advice line, also for non-emergency enquiries.111 is a 24-hour medical advice line, also for non-emergency enquiries.
Separately, motoring organisation RAC said its breakdown number went down Saturday morning after "Vodafone suffered a catastrophic failure to its telephone equipment" affecting "many large businesses" who use its services. Motoring organisation RAC said it was unable to receive calls from members between 04:00 GMT and 12:30 GMT.
A spokesman for the Home Office, which oversees 101, said if had been working with Vodafone to resolve the problems "as soon as possible". "Our patrols spent this morning driving their busiest areas to help any motorists in difficulty," it said in a statement.
"Vodafone have now informed us that the problem has been fixed and we are now receiving calls."
It said workers were working through a backlog calls, adding: "We apologise for any issues this may have caused."
A spokesman for the Home Office, which oversees 101, said it had been working with Vodafone to resolve the problems "as soon as possible".
"There was a technical problem affecting the 101 service this morning but we have worked with our supplier, Vodafone, to address this and can now confirm that this issue has been resolved," the spokesman said."There was a technical problem affecting the 101 service this morning but we have worked with our supplier, Vodafone, to address this and can now confirm that this issue has been resolved," the spokesman said.
In a statement, Northumbria Police said the 101 system was working again and the emergency 999 number had not been affected by the problems.
NHS England said a national divert and back-up lines had ensured disruption to patients was "kept to a minimum."NHS England said a national divert and back-up lines had ensured disruption to patients was "kept to a minimum."
The national backup meant many callers either received a voiced message giving them an alternative number or had been transferred to a national line, NHS England said.The national backup meant many callers either received a voiced message giving them an alternative number or had been transferred to a national line, NHS England said.
Others received an engaged tone, it said, adding: "The early assessment is that these procedures worked well."Others received an engaged tone, it said, adding: "The early assessment is that these procedures worked well."