Tonys' New Improved Police Force

This morning on GMtv Tony Blair was asked about an incident where somebody tried to telephone a local community beat police officer, only to be connected to an answering machine. He said that there were plans to introduce a ‘non-emergency police line’. A what? When I have an emergency, I dial 999. In a non-emergency, I telephone my local police station. So what is this non-emergency line going to be? Admittedly, when I telephone my local police station, I am connected to a central switchboard, (in Stafford, I believe) and when I have explained to them what I am calling for, they connect me to my local station and I explain to them. (This system, presumably was introduced to improve efficiency! Wait to be connected twice, explain twice.) Maybe this is what Tony means. In future, we will be able to telephone our local station direct. Like we used to. And I wonder how much these changes have/will cost