When to call 999, 101 or 111: what each UK number is for (with examples)

Posted on by Safety App UK team

In the UK, call 999 (or 112) when a life is at risk, someone is being violent or a crime is happening right now. Call 101, the police non-emergency number, for crimes that have already happened. Call 111 for urgent medical help that is not life-threatening. All three are free; 999 and 101 work across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but Northern Ireland has no 111 service.

Updated 12 October 2026 · Sources: GOV.UK, NHS, police.uk, Ofcom, NHS 24, nidirect, Report Fraud, British Transport Police · Next review: January 2027

In danger now? Call 999

If anyone is hurt, in danger, or a crime is happening now, call 999 straight away. If you can’t speak, stay on the line and, on a mobile, press 55 when asked (see how a silent 999 call works). Deaf or speech-impaired? You can text 999 once you have registered for emergencySMS, or call 999 BSL for a remote sign language interpreter.

What each number is for

999 or 112

Emergencies. Police, ambulance, fire and HM Coastguard when a life is at risk or a crime is happening now. Free from all phones.

101

Police, not urgent. Crimes that have already happened, information for the police, questions about a report. Free, works only from within the UK.

111

NHS, urgent but not life-threatening. Unsure if you need A&E, or your GP is closed. Free by phone; in England also online at 111.nhs.uk.

When should I call 999?

Call 999 when someone’s life is in danger, someone is being violent or threatening violence, a crime such as a burglary is happening right now, or there is a fire or a serious medical emergency such as a heart attack, stroke or serious road crash. 112 works the same way. The operator first asks: “Emergency, which service?”

Be ready to say where you are: a postcode, a landmark or a what3words address helps (see how to tell 999 exactly where you are). The NHS says an ambulance is not always sent: you may be told it is safe to go to A&E yourself or to be seen elsewhere. While you wait, the call handler may talk you through first aid, such as CPR and using a defibrillator.

What is 101 and when should I use it?

101 is the police non-emergency number across the UK. Use it for a crime that has already happened when no one is in danger, to give the police information, or to ask about a report you have already made. It has been free from all phones since April 2020 and only works from within the UK. You can also report online.

For more on choosing between the two police numbers, with what to say on the call, see our guide 999 or 101? How to report a crime in the UK. If you want to stay anonymous, Crimestoppers takes information on 0800 555 111, but not emergencies or reports from victims.

What is 111 and when should I call it?

111 is the NHS number for urgent medical help that is not life-threatening, for example when you feel unwell and are unsure whether you need A&E, or your GP surgery is closed. It is free. In England you can also use 111.nhs.uk or the NHS App (for ages 5 and over). Scotland uses NHS 24 on 111, and Wales uses NHS 111 Wales.

111 can send you to an urgent treatment centre, an out-of-hours GP, a pharmacist, an urgent dental or mental health service, or tell you how to look after yourself at home. In England, 111 also has a mental health option for urgent help. If a life is at risk, call 999 instead.

Which number should I call? Situations and answers

Red means call 999 now, amber means police but not urgent, green means another service. For every official number in one place, see which number should I call?

Not sure which police route fits your crime? Our guide to where to report a crime lists every official route by type of crime.

What happens when you call 111?

  1. You answer questions about your symptoms. Call rather than use 111 online if your child is under 5, you have complex problems from an existing condition, a care plan from your doctor, or need end-of-life care.
  2. You are told where to go. That could be an urgent treatment centre, an out-of-hours GP, a pharmacist, an urgent dental or mental health service, or advice on caring for yourself at home.
  3. You may get a nurse callback. The nurse tries up to three times. If they can’t reach you, you can’t call them back: call 111 again or use 111 online.
  4. Know the limits. 111 can’t issue fit notes or make or cancel appointments elsewhere in the NHS.

Need an interpreter? Call 111 and ask for one. Text relay users can call 18001 111, and British Sign Language users can use the NHS 111 BSL service through SignVideo.

Myths and facts about 999, 101 and 111

Myth: 101 costs 15p a call

Fact: the 15p charge was scrapped in April 2020. Ofcom lists 999, 112, 111, 101 and 105 as free from all phones.

Myth: 112 doesn’t work in the UK

Fact: 112 is the European emergency number and reaches the same UK emergency operators as 999.

Myth: 999 always sends an ambulance

Fact: the NHS says you may be told it is safe to travel to A&E yourself or to be seen somewhere else. Life-threatening calls get paramedics or a first responder.

Myth: an online report counts for less

Fact: police.uk says online reports are dealt with by the control room in exactly the same way as phone calls. Never use online forms in an emergency.

Are 999, 101 and 111 the same in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

999, 112 and 101 work the same way across the UK; 101 connects you to your local force, including Police Scotland and the PSNI. 111 differs: England has NHS 111, Wales NHS 111 Wales and Scotland NHS 24 on 111. Northern Ireland has no 111 service, so you call your GP out-of-hours service. Fraud reports also differ.

▲ same as this guide · ▬ similar, different name · ▼ different. Checked on GOV.UK, nhs.uk, NHS 24, NHS 111 Wales, nidirect and Report Fraud on 12 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Ofcom says calls to 999, 111, 112, 101 and 105 are free from all phones, including mobiles. NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk is also free to use.

The NHS says 111 online is for ages 5 and over, so call 111 if your child is under 5. If your child is seriously ill or injured, or their life may be at risk, call 999.

Yes, when it is not an emergency. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland use police.uk; in Scotland use Police Scotland’s contact page. Online reports are handled the same way as calls.

If a life is at risk, or you can’t keep yourself or someone else safe, call 999 or go to A&E. Otherwise, in England call 111 and choose the mental health option. Samaritans are on 116 123. In Northern Ireland, Lifeline is on 0808 808 8000.

Sources

General information for the UK, not legal or medical advice. Services change: check GOV.UK or nhs.uk for your situation. In an emergency, always call 999.

Keep reading

Call the right number, and let your people know where you are

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