Non emergencies
On this page:
What a non-emergency is
Something is a non-emergency unless:
- someone’s in danger
- you need help now
- a serious incident is happening or about to happen
- the suspect is still there
Always call 999 in an emergency.
Examples of non-emergencies
Some examples of non-emergencies are if you want to:
- speak to a specific police officer
- report a crime that’s already happened (for example, theft)
- get advice on how to prevent a crime
- make us aware of policing issues in your area
- ask us to escort an abnormal load
Tell us about a non-emergency
If you want to tell us about anything that’s not an emergency, you can contact us:
Online
You can use our online forms to report non-emergencies. This includes:
- stalking, harassment, domestic abuse, or hate crime
- shoplifting
- lost property
- anything else (this is not treated as an emergency)
- using Contact Scotland BSL if you use British Sign Language (BSL)
If you want to contact us about anything else online, check our contact page to find the team or task you need.
By phone (in Scotland)
You can call 101 if it's not an emergency.
101 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Anyone in Scotland or the UK can use it.
Calling 101 is quicker and easier for you to get the help you need. It also means people in an emergency that need 999 can be answered faster.
By phone (outside of Scotland)
If you're in the England, Wales, or Northern Ireland call 0300 426 0101.
If you live outside the UK call 0300 426 0101.
In person
You can tell your community policing team about a non-emergency. You can speak to them in-person, on the phone, or by email.
Find your local community policing team’s contact details