Useful Contacts

1 min read

Here’s a comprehensive list of useful and emergency contact numbers for residents of Dorset.

🚨 Emergency Services (Immediate risk-to-life)

  • 📞 Emergency services (Police, Fire, Ambulance, Coastguard) – 999
    (Use only when there is serious danger to life or a crime in progress)
  • 📞 Alternative emergency number (from mobile or international) – 112 (also connects to emergency services in the UK)

🚓 Police

  • 📞 Non-emergency Police (Dorset Police) – 101 (use for non-urgent reports or enquiries) (Dorset Police)
  • 🌐 Report a crime online – via the Dorset Police website

🏥 Health & Medical

  • 📞 NHS 111 – 111 (urgent medical advice when it’s not a 999 emergency)
  • 📞 Local hospitals (general enquiries) – see local area hospital contact lists (e.g., Dorset County Hospital: 01305 251150)

🔥 Fire & Rescue

  • 📞 Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue (non-emergency) – 01722 691000
  • 📞 Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue (controlled burn) – Control room on 0306 799 0019 Website

⚡ Utilities & Infrastructure

  • Electricity
    • 📞 Power cuts and emergencies (all suppliers) – 105 (national power cut line to report electricity faults)
    • 📞 Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks (SSE) – 0800 072 7282
    • 📞 Western Power Distribution – 0800 365 900
  • Gas
    • 📞 National Gas Emergency Service – 0800 111 999 (free)
  • Water
    • 📞 Wessex Water emergency line – 0345 600 4600

🚗 Transport & Environment

  • 📞 Highways England (road incidents such as major trunk roads A31/A35/A37) – 0300 123 5000
  • 📞 Dorset Council (incl. highways, flooding concerns & out-of-hours urgent issues) – 01305 221000 (general customer services)
  • 📞 Environment Agency – Floodline – 0345 988 1188 (24/7 flood risk line)
  • 📞 Environment Agency – Incident hotline (pollution/flooding) – 0800 807 060

🧠 Other Useful Support Contacts

(not strictly emergency but important support)

  • 📞 Victim Support (crime victims) – 0808 168 9111
  • 📞 Dorset Council Adult & Social Care – 01305 221016 (office hours) / 01305 858250 (out of hours)

📌 Tips for Dorset Residents

  • If someone is in immediate danger or a serious incident is happening, always call 999 first.
  • For non-urgent police calls, use 101 so that 999 lines stay free for emergencies.
  • Save key numbers in your phone and display a sheet at home where all family members can see them.