The government wants people to call 101 to report vandalism, harassment, fly-tipping and other non-urgent cases.

The service will be launched in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Northumbria, Leics, Rutland, South Yorkshire and South Wales later this year.

The Home Office wants to ease the workload on the 999 system which receives 10 million calls a year.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Drug-related anti-social behaviour is one of the activities that will be covered by the single non-emergency number.

"But calling in any crime that requires an emergency response will still be dealt with via the 999 service."

The plans were first unveiled as part of a package of wide-ranging police reforms by then Home Secretary David Blunkett in November 2004.