UK emergency and helpline numbers
In an emergency, dial 999 or 112. Both are free and connect you to the same emergency services from any UK phone. The other numbers below are worth keeping handy too. Who Called Me Check is a number lookup site, not an emergency service, so if you need help now, call 999 rather than searching here.
Emergency and urgent numbers
| Number | What it's for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 999 or 112 | Police, fire and rescue, ambulance, coastguard or mountain rescue in an emergency | Free |
| 101 | Non-urgent police matters | 15p per call |
| 111 | Urgent medical advice from the NHS when it isn't life-threatening | Free |
| 105 | Power cuts and damaged electricity cables or substations | Free |
| 0800 111 999 | Gas leaks or the smell of gas | Free |
| 159 | Getting through safely to your bank if you think you're being scammed | Varies by bank |
Support and advice numbers
| Number | What it's for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 116 123 | Samaritans, available 24 hours a day for anyone who needs to talk | Free |
| 0800 1111 | Childline, for children and young people | Free |
| 0808 2000 247 | The National Domestic Abuse Helpline | Free |
| 0800 555 111 | Crimestoppers, for giving information anonymously | Free |
| 0300 123 2040 | Action Fraud, for reporting fraud and cyber crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland | Standard landline rate |
If you can't speak on a 999 call
If you call 999 from a mobile and can't talk, stay on the line and listen. When prompted, press 55. This lets the operator know your call is genuine and you need the police.
If you're deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, you can register for the emergency SMS service by texting "register" to 999. After that you can contact the emergency services by text.
Calls claiming to be from an official body
If someone says they're calling from the police, HMRC or your bank, hang up and contact that organisation on a number you've found yourself. You can also look up the number that called you with our who called me UK check.
Common questions
What number do I call in an emergency in the UK?
999. You can also use 112, the European emergency number, which reaches the same services.
Is there any difference between 112 and 999?
No. Both are free and connect to the same emergency operators. 112 is just the number used across Europe.
What's the police number when it isn't urgent?
101. It costs 15p per call.
What number do I call for NHS advice?
111. It's free and for urgent health problems that aren't life-threatening.
Who do I call if the power goes off?
105. It's free and puts you through to the company that runs your local electricity network.
What should I do if I can smell gas?
Call 0800 111 999 free of charge, open windows if it's safe to, and leave the building if the smell is strong.