Warwickshire Police introduced Delivering The Right Service, First Time seven weeks ago, which for the first time offered callers a private appointment with a police officer for non-emergency matters.

The results of a survey published in a report by Chief Constable Keith Bristow show that, out of 267 people who have attended an appointment since the new system was introduced, 85 per cent were satisfied with their first contact.

Of those, 87 per cent were satisfied with their appointment, nine out of ten were happy with the location of the appointment and 89 per cent with the service they received.

Forty per cent of incidents during May were resolved without the need to deploy a police officer or community support officer - up from 27 per cent last year.

A police spokeswoman said: "People are happy that they are being given a definite time - which they agree - to see an officer when they know that their concerns will be dealt with rather than the previous system where visits were frequently delayed.

"The new system also means that more officers are available to respond to other incidents and tackle those causing most harm in the county.

"It is a more efficient way of using resources to better protect people from harm."

The system is operated by communications staff, who categorise 999 calls so incidents can be handled more efficiently and in order of priority.

As usual, emergencies are attended immediately and priority calls are seen within 60 minutes.

Appointments should be seen within two days at one of the force's nine police stations, including in Leamington and Warwick.

An 'appointment car' is used by officers to go to see those who cannot travel.

Staff numbers have been increased at the police call centre in Leek Wootton during the past two years, an intelligence expert is now in place 24 hours a day and eight officers are on hand in the control room.