Frequently Asked Questions...
Is 101 available across the whole of Wales?
Yes, the 101 number can be dialled from anywhere within the four Police Service areas of Wales. You can dial 101 from all ‘landlines’ (including telephone kiosks) and most mobile telephones. If you experience difficulty using the 101 service from your mobile you should contact your mobile company for assistance.
How does 101 connect me to my local Police Service?
All 101 calls pass through a system which identifies where the calls are made from, the system then ensures these calls are passed on to the appropriate Police Service area. Areas which are on the boundary between Police Service areas may experience instances where calls are initially connected to a neighbouring Police Service, in these cases it may be necessary to re-direct the call. This is done at no additional cost to the caller.
How much does a call to 101 cost?
Calls to 101 from standard BT lines cost 10p for the entirety of the call. The cost of calls to 101 from other networks and mobile providers may vary. Please contact your telephone company to confirm the cost.
Can I contact 101 using an Internet or Broadband Telephone?
Most Internet Service Providers which provide Voice Over Internet Telephony services do not allow calls to be made to 101 via their systems. Please check with your internet company.
Is 101 the same as 112?
No, 112 is the European emergency phone number. It works in the same way as 999 and is available across all countries in the European Union, including the United Kingdom. 101 is a NON-emergency number.
Is 101 going to replace 999?
No, 101 is the way to contact the Police in Wales when you do not have an emergency. 999 will continue to be the number to dial when you need to report an emergency such as a crime in progress, the use or threat of violence, a situation where an offender has recently been disturbed or made off, or when there has been a road accident where people have been injured or the road is blocked.
Are calls to 101 answered by the Police?
Yes, all calls to 101 are answered by police operators. Please note that all calls may be recorded for training, development, evidential and public safety reasons.
Is 101 available outside Wales?
Yes, 101 is available in some other parts of the United Kingdom. A number of other Police Services and Local Authorities in England and Northern Ireland have services similar to the 101 service in Wales.
Can I use 101 to contact the Police in Wales from elsewhere in the UK?
No, at present the 101 service is only available in Wales and some other areas of England and Northern Ireland. If you need to contact a Welsh Police Service from outside Wales you will need to use a “standard” telephone number. Please visit the website of the Police Service you wish to contact to obtain their “outside Wales” telephone number. You can access the relevant website by clicking on the police crests above.
Is 101 available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Yes, 101 is available all day, every day of the year (including weekends and Public Holidays).
Can I contact my local Police Service from anywhere in Wales?
Yes, 101 is available across the whole of Wales and the Welsh Police Services are working together to ensure that you can access each individual Service from wherever you are. For example if you live in Bangor (covered by North Wales Police), and work in Swansea (covered by South Wales Police) you can call 101 while at work and ask to be put through to North Wales Police. This will be done at no additional cost.