Territorial forces, emergencies, reporting crimes and your basic rights explained without confusion. In this guide, we have gathered the key points so you can organise yourself at your own pace and with more confidence.
There is no single police force for the whole country
England and Wales have 43 territorial police forces. London has the Metropolitan Police for most of the city and the City of London Police for the financial district. Scotland has Police Scotland; Northern Ireland has the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
There are also specialist bodies: the British Transport Police mainly covers the railways, while the National Crime Agency works against serious and organised crime. To report an ordinary crime, contact the relevant territorial police force, not the NCA.
How to contact the police
Call 999 if there is immediate danger, a crime in progress, or an emergency. For non-urgent matters, call 101 or check the local force's website to make a report online. If you are unsure which force covers your area, GOV.UK provides a search tool.
When you report, explain what happened, where and when, and keep the incident reference number if one is provided.
999: emergency. 101: police matters that do not require an immediate response.
Who oversees the police
In much of England and Wales, elected Police and Crime Commissioners, or Mayors with those functions, oversee priorities and budgets; operational leadership remains with the chief police officers. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own oversight structures.
Complaints about police conduct follow the procedures of each jurisdiction, with independent bodies such as the IOPC in England and Wales, the PIRC in Scotland and the Police Ombudsman in Northern Ireland.
Stops, detention and rights
Powers of identification, search and detention depend on the jurisdiction and the circumstances. In England and Wales, a personal search generally requires reasonable grounds for suspicion, though legal exceptions exist. The police must explain the reason for a detention.
If you are detained, ask for free legal advice and an interpreter if you need one. This is general information, not legal advice: consult the rules of your jurisdiction or a professional for your specific case.