📞 101 Police Number UK — The Complete Guide

Sunday, 02 August 2026

101 is the UK's non-emergency police number. It's for reporting crimes that are not emergencies — a stolen bike, criminal damage, fraud, or noise complaints — and for getting advice from your local force.

This guide covers when to call 101, what it costs, how to report online instead, what happens after your call, and what to do if 101 isn't working.

📋 Quick answer: Call 101 for non-emergency crime — it costs 15p per call from any phone. Call 999 if someone is in danger or a crime is in progress. For fraud and cyber crime, report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 instead. Most forces let you report online for free and get a crime reference number immediately.

When to call 101

Call 101 when you need the police but no one is in immediate danger and the crime is not in progress. For example:

Your car or bike has been stolen
Your home has been broken into (and the offender has left)
You've been a victim of fraud or a scam
Your property has been damaged
You want to report a noise complaint or anti-social behaviour
You need advice, or want to follow up on an existing report

Always call 999 instead if: someone is in danger, a crime is happening right now, or there's a serious injury. Don't use 101 for emergencies — every second matters.

What does calling 101 cost?

101 calls cost 15p per call from both landlines and mobiles, no matter how long you're on the phone. It's a flat rate set by the government — there's no per-minute charge and it doesn't use your call allowance.

Landline or mobile: 15p per call, flat rate
Free alternatives: most police forces now offer online reporting (free) and some offer webchat
101 is not free — if you're on a low income or calling abroad, use the online form instead

101 vs 999: which one?

Situation	Number
Someone in immediate danger	999
Crime in progress	999
Serious injury / medical emergency	999
Stolen property (not in progress)	101
Fraud or scam	101 (or Action Fraud)
Damage / noise / advice	101
Report online (non-urgent)	Online form

101 vs Action Fraud: which one for fraud?

This is the question that sends most people in circles, so here it is plainly:

Fraud and cyber crime → Action Fraud (0300 123 2040 or actionfraud.police.uk). It's the UK's national reporting centre for fraud, run by the City of London Police, and it's where fraud reports need to go.
A crime in progress, threats or a scammer at your door → 999.
Everything else non-urgent → 101 or your force's online form.

If you're not sure which applies to you, our step-by-step guide to reporting a scam in the UK sets out every route in the order you should use them.

How to report a crime online instead of calling 101

You don't always need to call 101 — most UK forces let you report non-emergency crimes online, and you'll get a crime reference number immediately. It's free and often faster than the phone queue.

Go to your local force's website (find them via police.uk)
Find "Report a crime online" or "Report an incident"
Complete the form with dates, times, and details
Submit — you'll get a crime reference number on screen and by email

What you can't report online: emergencies (call 999), crimes in progress, and some sensitive offences. When in doubt, call 101.

What to have ready before you call or report

Having this in front of you turns a stressful call into a short one:

What happened, in the order it happened, with dates and times
Where it happened, including the postcode if you have it
Who was involved — descriptions, vehicle details, or a phone number or username if you have one
What was taken or damaged, with rough values for insurance
Your details — name, address, date of birth and a contact number
Any reference numbers from a previous report, your bank, or Action Fraud

Write it down first. You can read from a list — officers would rather you did.

What happens after you call 101

You'll be given a crime reference number — keep it safe, you'll need it for insurance and bank claims
The force will tell you what happens next and roughly when to expect an update
For lower-level crimes you may not hear anything unless you chase it — quote your reference number when you follow up

What your reference number is for. A crime reference number is the ID the police use to track your report. You'll be asked for it by insurers and by your bank, and quoting it lets any officer pull up your report instantly. Our guide to crime reference numbers in the UK explains what yours looks like, how to check it, and what to do if you never received one.

Chasing an update. Call 101 and quote your reference number, use your force's online enquiry form, or check the email receipt you were sent when you reported. See what happens after you report a crime for the fuller picture of how reports are handled.

What to do if 101 isn't working

Sometimes 101 is busy or has technical problems. If you can't get through:

Try the online form — most forces have one; it's free and gives you a crime reference number instantly
Check your force's website — many forces list alternative contact methods (webchat, email form)
Wait and retry — 101 queues can be long at peak times (evenings and weekends)
For fraud specifically, report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at actionfraud.police.uk
Only if it's an emergency, call 999

Can you email or webchat 101?

Some forces offer webchat and online enquiry forms as alternatives to the phone — check your local force's website. There's no national 101 email address; contact methods vary by force. The most consistent free option is the online crime report form.

Related guides

CyberAware UK — helping families report crime, recover from scams, and stay safe online.