Like the 999 service 0300 123 1212 is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week however it serves a slightly different purpose.

In an emergency always call 999.

An emergency is when a crime is taking place, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, someone is injured, being threatened or in danger.

For example:
If your house is being burgled (or the suspect is nearby) call 999.
If your car is being stolen (or the suspect is nearby) call 999.

Call 0300 123 1212 when you need to report crime that is NOT an emergency.

For example:
If your house has been burgled and the thieves have left hours or even days ago, call 0300 123 1212.
If your car has been stolen and the thieves have left hours or even days ago, call 0300 123 1212.

The number has been introduced to make it simpler to contact the police, reducing the amount of inappropriate 999 calls.

Calls from any network will cost no more than those to 01 or 02 numbers.

You can also call 0300 123 1212 when you need to speak to your local police, seek advice on police matters or comment on the service you have received from the Metropolitan Police.

If you are deaf or have a speech impairment you can use a textphone to call the police. Dial 18000 in an emergency, or 18001 if your call is not an emergency.

The Metropolitan Police Operators have access to professional interpreters so they can quickly translate your call if you cannot speak English or have difficulty speaking it.

For further information visit http://www.met.police.uk

Neither 999 or 0300 123 1212 replace the numbers for the Safer Neighbourhood Teams. The Haringey Safer Neighbourhood Teams telephones are not constantly manned but messages can be left on an answering machine.