Reporting incidents, accidents and emergencies
There are several services available to help when incidents, accidents and emergencies happen. This page aims to help you understand which service to access and when to contact them.
Police
Call 999 in emergency situations including if there is an immediate danger to life, someone is using or threatening to use violence, a road traffic collision where life is at risk or the road is blocked, or there is crime happening right at that time like a burglary or theft.
If you’re in danger and can’t talk on the phone, you should still call 999 and follow these instructions.
If you accidentally dial 999, stay on the line and tell the operator you are safe, and no crime has occurred.
Call 101 for non-emergency enquiries. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use the textphone service on 18001 101.
Ambulance
Call 999 in a life-threatening emergency only, these may be different for adults and children. Examples of life-threatening emergencies for adults include suicide attempt, difficulty breathing, choking and heavy bleeding. Examples of life-threatening emergencies for children include a seizure, unable to stay awake, limp and floppy. View more examples of life-threatening emergencies on the NHS website.
When you call 999, try to remain calm, speak clearly and slowing. A call handler will ask you some questions including the location of the emergency, what has happened and your contact number. The call handler will give you an idea of how long you will need to wait and may give you instructions on what to do while you wait, including how to give basic first aid. Read more about what happens when you call 999 on the NHS website.
If you are not sure what to do, NHS 111 can help. Check your symptoms on 111 online, or call 111 to speak to someone if you need help for a child under 5.
Fire service
Call 999 no matter how small a fire is as small fires can quickly spread into larger fires. Don’t assume someone else has called 999, if you see an emergency, make the call.
If you are in the building where the fire is, get out, stay out and then call 999.
Coastguard
If you need to call for emergency help for yourself or someone else at sea, you should call 999 and ask for the coastguard. Don’t enter the water.
The HM Coastguard website has advice on what to do in a coastal emergency.
EmergencySMS service
If you have a hearing or speech impairment, you can pre-register with the Relay UK emergencySMS service which allows you to use the textphone service 18000 or text 999 to make emergency calls to the police, ambulance, fire, and coastguard services.
Register your mobile now, don’t leave it until an emergency, by texting ‘register’ to 999.
999 BSL
999 BSL is an emergency video relay service for deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL). The 999 BSL service is available to download as a smartphone app (iOS and Android) and on the 999 BSL website. 999 BSL allows you to make emergency calls to the police, ambulance, fire, and coastguard services.
CrimeStoppers
If you want to report a crime or suspicious behaviour anonymously, contact CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111. Some reasons that people may want to report anonymously include reporting someone they know, worry that others will know if they speak out and not sure if the information they know will help. View the CrimeStoppers easy-read leaflet which explains how information can be given to the charity anonymously.