Dialing 999 (UK) from abroad

colinut

So here's my predicament:

I had 2 IP Cameras installed in my house which have motion sensors and send me an email as soon as they detect movement like someone entering my house when we're not there.
If this was to happen while I'm at work (in the UK) I would ring 999 immediately and tell the police that someone is breaking in as we speak.
However, let's say I am on holiday in Spain and I get an email alert from my camera, I cannot dial 999 because I am outside the UK. I can however dial the non-emergency number of my local police force, which usually have a queue and quite a few option picking barriers before you even get to talk to someone. There's a very good chance my laptop, iPad and (her) jewelry will be long gone by then.

This highlights a gap in my opinion in the service and I was wondering if anyone is aware of a way around to get directly through to an emergency UK number from outside the UK?

Tammykitty

colinut wrote: »

So here's my predicament:

I had 2 IP Cameras installed in my house which have motion sensors and send me an email as soon as they detect movement like someone entering my house when we're not there.
If this was to happen while I'm at work (in the UK) I would ring 999 immediately and tell the police that someone is breaking in as we speak.
However, let's say I am on holiday in Spain and I get an email alert from my camera, I cannot dial 999 because I am outside the UK. I can however dial the non-emergency number of my local police force, which usually have a queue and quite a few option picking barriers before you even get to talk to someone. There's a very good chance my laptop, iPad and (her) jewelry will be long gone by then.

This highlights a gap in my opinion in the service and I was wondering if anyone is aware of a way around to get directly through to an emergency UK number from outside the UK?

Can you get the security system to e-mail someone in the UK when you are on holidays?
This is probably advisable anyway as will you have instant access to your e-mail when abroad? (I always have my data roaming off)


Or phone a friend and get them to phone 999.

spadoosh

Phone 112

carrying on writing because the forum says so.

Browntoa

Bt smart talk if a BT customer , TU Go app if O2 customer and so on


does your phone supplier have an Android or IOS app

spadoosh

Just phone 112, any mobile will do it, dont need a sim card or credit or an android, just a mobile phone and the number 1, 1 and 2.

Browntoa

only calls the local networks 112 , not uk

unforeseen

Browntoa wrote: »

Bt smart talk if a BT customer , TU Go app if O2 customer and so on


does your phone supplier have an Android or IOS app

From TU go T&Cs

does not allow you to make emergency (999) calls. If you try to make an emergency call from the App on a smartphone then the app will exit and an emergency call will be attempted over your mobile network.

BT Smart Talk will do the same

victor2

Tammykitty wrote: »

Can you get the security system to e-mail someone in the UK when you are on holidays?
This is probably advisable anyway as will you have instant access to your e-mail when abroad? (I always have my data roaming off)

+1 on that.
Get someone at work to cover for you and just put a forwarder on your email system for camera messages. Presumably they would need access to the live camera feed as well, so that they can tell the police they can see the intrusion in progress. Otherwise, it's not going to be of any interest to the police - just like a house alarm going off.
Burglars are likely to be in and out within minutes anyway. Long before you've come in from the Spanish beach and checked your email.

Even professionally installed monitored alarm systems have to have key holder(s) who are contacted first, before any attempt to contact the police is made.

spadoosh

Browntoa wrote: »

only calls the local networks 112 , not uk

They will connect you to someone

System

The question is - why ever leave the house?

Someone could steal the ipad, jewellery etc whilst you are in the shower.

kingrulzuk

colinut wrote: »

So here's my predicament:

I had 2 IP Cameras installed in my house which have motion sensors and send me an email as soon as they detect movement like someone entering my house when we're not there.
If this was to happen while I'm at work (in the UK) I would ring 999 immediately and tell the police that someone is breaking in as we speak.
However, let's say I am on holiday in Spain and I get an email alert from my camera, I cannot dial 999 because I am outside the UK. I can however dial the non-emergency number of my local police force, which usually have a queue and quite a few option picking barriers before you even get to talk to someone. There's a very good chance my laptop, iPad and (her) jewelry will be long gone by then.

This highlights a gap in my opinion in the service and I was wondering if anyone is aware of a way around to get directly through to an emergency UK number from outside the UK?

Even when you are somewhere in UK there is very good chance that all ur above things will be gone before even the police turn up as they see it as low priority.