Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner has said new technology could improve how the force handles calls from the public.
David Sidwick told councillors that staff currently need to input information into several different systems, which slows down response times when more than one report is needed.
Speaking at the Dorset Police and Crime Panel on Thursday, Mr Sidwick said a single integrated system would make a real difference, but warned the force could not afford the investment at present.
He said 94 per cent of 999 calls are answered within 10 seconds and the average wait time for 101 calls is just over a minute. Around 70 per cent of non-emergency calls are dealt with during the first contact.
While overall performance was praised, he said delays can still happen in more complex cases where information needs to be passed to officers or specialists.
The Commissioner said he has asked Dorset Police to look again at how the 101 service could be improved further, despite a recent Peel inspection report stating it was within acceptable standards. A response is expected by the autumn.
He also reminded councillors that the national inspection reports do not reflect financial pressures or current progress, as they are often based on data that is a year old.
He added that Dorset Police continues to perform well in comparison with other South West forces.