Residents in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, can now report non-emergency crimes and contact the force through a 24/7 live chat service. Derbyshire Constabulary has expanded its live chat — which the force first promoted on its website in January 2025 — and the service was highlighted as fully operational for Swadlincote in January 2026 to make it easier for people to get help without waiting on the phone.
The service is part of a new beta website that includes a specific section for the Gresley, Woodville and Swadlincote neighbourhood team. Users can click a speech bubble on their screen to send a message and be connected to a live call handler in the force’s digital contact centre instead of waiting on the 101 non-emergency telephone line.
Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts, the Police and Crime Commissioner, said the goal is to provide a faster and more reliable response to the public. Previous data reported by the PCC’s office showed that moving to digital-first reporting helped reduce average 101 wait times from over four minutes to under a minute.
Local officers will use information from these chats to help plan patrols and address issues such as anti-social behaviour in the town centre. While the website is still being improved, the PCC has tied investment in digital contact technology to the force’s 2026–27 budget plans.
Residents can still use traditional phone lines if they prefer; the live chat is intended as an additional option for those who find it more convenient. For any life-threatening situation or a crime in progress, people should always call 999 rather than using the website.
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