Dial 999 if you are encountering an emergency requiring immediate assistance. You will reach the main switchboard for police, fire, and medical emergency services. 999 is the only number you need to dial in an emergency. The first thing the 999 operator will ask is ‘which service?’ If you are unsure as to the service you need or need more than one service (in the case of a road accident, for example), tell the operator immediately. While the operator can locate where you are calling from, even if you’re calling from a mobile phone, it’s a good idea to tell them your location. The operator will then connect you to the fire, police, ambulance service or the coast guards who get to you as soon as possible.
Emergency Medical Services
For lesser emergencies and in order to free up hospitals’ Emergency Rooms or deal with minor emergencies, the government has introduced “walk-in centers”. There, you will be able to talk to nurses and receive help. Find your nearest center on http://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search. You can also call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for health related problems. The service works 24/7 and will help you with health matters including the address for your nearest emergency room, chemists open outside normal hours, and translators in several languages are also on hand.
Non-urgent crime
To report a non-urgent crime, contact your local police station. For Central London, this is the West End Central Police station on +44 (0)20 7437 1212. If you have any information about a crime, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on +44 (0)800 555 111 or on http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
Police
When we are not worried about the morning commute to work or the price of houses, the next best topic of conversation is crime. London crime statistics fell in many categories in the latest official news-publication. Fighting crime is a major priority for the London’s authorities. The Metropolitan Police has put together a visitor guide in seven European languages: https://www.met.police.uk/.
