In an emergency

Call 999 or 112 they both connect to the same services in the UK.

What to say

Be ready to answer:

  • Which service you need: Fire.

  • Location of the emergency: Postcode, street name, nearby landmarks. Consider using a location app such a What3Words.

  • What happened: Describe the situation clearly

  • Your contact number: In case they need to call you back.

Remember, stay calm and speak clearly.

The 999 Eye

How It Works

  • When you call 999, the operator may ask if you'd like to share a live video of the scene.

  • If you agree, they send a secure, one-time-use link via text.

  • Clicking the link opens your phone’s camera and begins streaming directly to the control centre.

  • No footage is stored on your phone, and no extra data is taken

Why it matters

  • Gives emergency responders real-time visual context before arriving.

  • Helps dispatch the right resources faster, especially useful in complex or unclear situations.

  • Improves decision-making and safety for both the public and emergency crews.

Good to know

  • Emergency calls are free from any phone, even payphones or mobiles without credit

  • If your mobile shows “no signal,” emergency calls may still connect via another network (but you won’t receive a callback)

Image of call operator
Image of a mobile phone

Be ready in an emergency

Location apps like What3Words allow callers and emergency services to quickly pinpoint exactly where an incident is happening. Whether you're in a remote field, by a riverbank, or on an industrial estate, emergency teams can be directed to your exact location—helping them respond faster to wildfires, water rescues, or road traffic collisions.

How it works:

What3Words has divided the entire world into 3m x 3m squares, assigning each a unique combination of three words. By sharing these three words, you can instantly communicate your precise location.

Download for Free


The What3Words app is free to use and available on mobile devices and via the website. Download it today so you're ready in case of an emergency.

Emergency help if you have difficulty speaking or hearing

  • If you find it hard to speak, you can pre-register your mobile to text 999. Don’t wait for an emergency—register now for this free service from BT Relay: Register for text 999

  • If you use British Sign Language (BSL), you can contact 999 through a dedicated emergency video relay service with a BSL interpreter: Visit 999 BSL