The new number would allow people to report low-level crimes

The plan - designed to ease pressure on the UK's 999 system - could also allow people to report low-level crimes to other organisations such as councils.

The government has suggested the call price should be reviewed once "volume and usage" of the service is assessed, Telecoms regulator Ofcom said.

Ofcom said the most likely number to be used would be 101.

The non-emergency number proposal has been in the pipeline for several years.

But the publication of part an Ofcom consultation into the scheme is the first time that a charge to dial the number has been raised.

There is no charge for 999 calls from either landline or mobile phones.

Undermining confidence

The emergency services have seen their annual number of calls rise by 40% to 10 million over the past six years.

The expert advice of our stakeholders was to levy a charge to reduce the likelihood of the service being abused Home Office

Research carried out by Mori in 2004 found only 53% of people who dialled 999 were satisfied with the service they received.

Police chiefs fear experiences with the existing service could undermine public confidence and make some people reluctant to provide information in the future.

"The preferred option of 10p per call was chosen following consultation with stakeholders and research with members of the public," a Home Office spokesperson said.