BT, on behalf of the UK emergency services. 999 is the UK emergency number. It also accepts text messages through emergencySMS - but only from a mobile you have registered in advance. We verified this against the operator's own published information on 13 August 2026; the sources are linked on this page.

I got a text from a short code I do not recognise – what should I do?

Do not tap any link in it and do not reply unless you are certain who the sender is. If it is marketing from a company you know, replying STOP to the short code shown in the message opts you out free. If it is unsolicited, forward it to 7726 free of charge and delete it - replying to an unknown sender only confirms your number is live.

999 – Who Runs It, What It Costs & Is It Safe?

Q: Is 999 free?

Free. Free from any phone, including a mobile with no credit. 112 reaches exactly the same operator.

Q: Is 999 a scam number?

No. 999 cannot be spoofed. Be wary of the reverse: scam calls that claim to be 'the police' or 'the fraud squad' and tell you to move money. Real police never will. Hang up and dial 101, or 159 if it is about your bank.

Short code: 999
Type: Text and dial short code
Operated by: BT, on behalf of the UK emergency services
Cost: Free
Category: Emergency and public services
Verified: 13 August 2026

What 999 is for

Most people know 999 as a call. Fewer know it takes texts: emergencySMS lets deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired people reach police, ambulance, fire or coastguard by SMS, with a relay assistant reading the message to the 999 operator.

You must register the phone before you need it. An unregistered phone's text will not get through, and you have to register again if you change number.

Relay UK advises using emergencySMS only if you have no other option, because it is slower than a 999 voice call or an 18000 relay call.

What it costs

Free. Free from any phone, including a mobile with no credit. 112 reaches exactly the same operator.

Text or call 999 — how it works

To register: text the word register to 999, read the reply, then text back yes. You will get a confirmation.
In an emergency, text 999 with which service you need, what is happening, and exactly where you are.
A delivery report is not a reply. Wait for an actual response - if none comes in a couple of minutes, call 18000 or get someone to call 999 for you.

Is 999 safe, and is it spoofed?

999 cannot be spoofed. Be wary of the reverse: scam calls that claim to be 'the police' or 'the fraud squad' and tell you to move money. Real police never will. Hang up and dial 101, or 159 if it is about your bank.

If a text or call is trying to rush you, threaten you, or get a password, one-time code or payment out of you, it is a scam whatever number it shows. Read our guide to the UK number ranges scammers use and how to spot a smishing text, and forward anything suspicious free to 7726.

Where this came from

We do not guess short codes. Every entry in this directory was checked against the organisation that runs the code, or against gov.uk or the regulator:

Checked against these sources on 13 August 2026. Short codes and their charges do change — if the operator’s page now says something different, believe the operator.

Checking an ordinary number instead

Short codes are not in Ofcom’s numbering data — only full UK numbers are. If it is a normal 01, 02, 03, 07, 08 or 09 number you want to identify, put it into the phone number checker and you will get its type, its area and the provider Ofcom allocated the range to.

Other UK short codes

101 · Police non-emergency 105 · Power cut helpline 111 · NHS urgent medical help 116 123 · Samaritans 18000 · Relay UK – emergency calls 18001 · Relay UK – make a relayed call

All verified UK short codes › · UK area codes › · UK network operators ›

999 — Emergency services (and emergencySMS by text)