BriefTea
Every story in sixty words
Get the free app no ads · no paywallExplained in plain English
What is 101 for?
101 is the national non-emergency police contact number in the UK. It's for reporting crimes that are not happening right now, or for general enquiries. For immediate threats to life or property, or when a crime is in progress, the public should always call 999. Using 101 helps keep the 999 line clear for emergencies.
Stories that explain this
Nottingham police officer shot in foot on SundayRelated explainers
How often are police shot? What is the penalty for shooting police? Do UK police carry guns? Where does £115m come from? Where does the £100m come from? What was the 1950s like?The full catalogue
Browse every card filed under 0–9 →We would like to count visits and see which links bring readers here. That means storing a random ID in your browser. No cookies, no ads, no profile. How it works.