101 or 999

📞 Police: When to call 101 and when to call 999

Call 999 (Emergency) if:

🚨 A crime is happening now or just happened

🧍 Someone is in immediate danger or threatened with violence

🔪 There’s a weapon involved

🚗 A serious road collision with injury or major obstruction

🏠 A suspect is on scene or nearby, and urgent police attendance is needed

🔥 There’s a risk to life, serious injury, or a fire/explosion

If in doubt and it feels urgent or unsafe, call 999.

Call 101 (Non-emergency) if:

🕘 A crime has already happened and there’s no immediate danger

📄 You need to report information, give a statement, or provide CCTV

🔐 Theft, criminal damage, or anti-social behaviour where offenders have left

🧱 Suspicious activity that isn’t happening right now

📃 You need crime reference numbers or to follow up on a report

Other ways to contact us:

🌐 Report non-emergencies online (police website)

You can see a burglary in progress → 999

You discovered your car was keyed overnight → 101 / online

You feel threatened on the street right now → 999

You have CCTV of a suspect from yesterday → 101 / online

Non-injury, minor collision and details exchanged → 101 / online

Drunk driver currently on the road → 999

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Message Sent By
Ingrid Smith
(Staffordshire Police, PCSO, East Staffordshire)