Yes, you can contact UK police from abroad, but not by dialing 999. Instead, you must use the direct international number of the specific police force, starting with +44.
Why 999 and 101 don’t work overseas
Dialing 999 or 101 from outside the UK will not connect you to British police. These numbers are internal shortcuts that only work within the UK network. When you're abroad, your phone connects to local carriers that route 999 to emergency services in the country you're in—or return an error.
Even if you're using a UK SIM card, roaming doesn’t extend emergency number access back to the UK. Emergency routing depends on your physical location, not your phone number’s origin.
How to reach UK police from abroad
To contact UK police from overseas, find the direct landline number for the relevant force and dial it using the international format. Replace the leading 0 with +44. For example, the Metropolitan Police non-emergency number is +44 20 7230 1212.
Each of the UK’s 45 territorial police forces has its own number. There is no single international emergency number for the UK. You must know which force covers the area you’re reporting about.
Cost and connectivity issues
Calling a UK police landline from abroad is treated as a standard international call. Unlike 999, which is free, these calls may incur high roaming charges depending on your mobile plan. If your phone has no credit or data, you won’t be able to make the call.
Voice over IP (VoIP) services like Skype can reduce costs, but may raise verification concerns. Police operators may be cautious with calls from digital services due to spoofing risks, so be ready to confirm your identity and location.
Alternative: report online
For non-urgent cases, the Police.uk website offers a reliable alternative. Many forces allow you to report crimes online, upload evidence, and receive a crime reference number by email. This avoids international call issues and is often clearer than a voice call over a poor connection.
Online reporting works well for fraud, stolen property, or incidents involving UK-based assets. However, it won’t replace an emergency call if someone is in immediate danger.
When local and UK jurisdiction overlap
If a crime involves both the UK and another country, you may need to report it locally first. For example, if your UK bank details were stolen while abroad, the local police handle the physical incident, while UK authorities manage the financial investigation.
Start with the local police to get an official report, then contact the relevant UK force or Action Fraud. Having both reports strengthens your case with banks and insurers.