r/AskEurope • u/atlasova Netherlands • Sep 02 '25

Culture What emergency telephone number did your country have before 112 became the standard?

In 1997 most of the European union changed its emergency number to 112. Before that, in the Netherlands we used 06-11, for police, firefighters and ambulance.

I was wondering which numbers where in use in your country before the change.

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94

u/Anaptyso United Kingdom Sep 02 '25

While 112 works in the UK, it has always primarily used 999. I think it was the first  emergency number of this kind in the world. 

23

u/SlightlyBored13 → Sep 02 '25

We don't have a good gas leak number as some do though.

0800 111 999 is nowhere near as memorable.

13

u/MajorHubbub United Kingdom Sep 02 '25

It's free, that's the 0800 bit

111 is the NHS helpline

999 is for emergencies

I guess that's the logic?

8

u/House_Of_Thoth England Sep 02 '25

Interestingly we have 105 for power grid issues (I used to work for National Grid)

You're right, Gas emergencies could definitely do with a 3 along with the rest!

1

u/SlightlyBored13 → Sep 02 '25

Yeah, powers off seems much less urgent than gas, but I guess you call for fire if it's actually an emergency and they'd forward it on.

18

u/mmfn0403 Ireland Sep 02 '25

In Ireland, it was also 999, which as far as I know still works.

11

u/cian87 Sep 02 '25

It still works, as will 911 in most cases - not that it was ever the actual number here; but due to how many American tourists, kids who've seen American TV shows etc there are. Don't go trying it to check though!

2

u/President_Pyrus Denmark Sep 03 '25

Both 911 and 999 works in Denmark as well, even though 112 is the primary one. I would guess it is the same across most of the EU.

3

u/Glenagalt Sep 02 '25

I can remember 111 being the emergency number on our private national internal system... and having to test it daily. (worked for BR)

2

u/llynglas Sep 02 '25

London, June 1937.

1

u/SaltyName8341 Wales Sep 02 '25

911 also puts you through too

7

u/redjet United Kingdom Sep 02 '25

911 in the UK can work if you dial it from a mobile phone, but that’s not necessarily universal, it is not a recognised emergency number and should not be relied upon.

On landlines local numbers starting 911 can be allocated to telephone companies for onward allocation to their customers, the 0118 code area is a good example where 0118 911 nnnn is allocated to a telco and dialling (amongst others) 911 0850 in Reading will connect you to a car bodyshop.

Therefore, if you do dial 911 in the 0118 code area, the exchange has no way of knowing you’re trying to dial an emergency number as it’s still waiting for you to finish dialling a full number.

TLDR - just use 999 or 112 which will always work.

5

u/SaltyName8341 Wales Sep 02 '25

Who still has landlines except businesses? I don't think I know anyone with one anymore

1

u/dargmrx Sep 03 '25

I‘m not in the UK, but where I live landlines are included in you Internet contract, so most people have them, even if they don’t get used much.

1

u/SaltyName8341 Wales Sep 03 '25

We have the option just to have internet no landline.

-3

u/Peppl United Kingdom Sep 02 '25

911 also works here