We all hope we will never be in a situation where we need to call the police because we are in danger - but it's important to know what to do if you need them.

In many situations it's simple, you pick up the phone and you talk - but what do you do if you are not able to speak?

Police have issued guidance to the public about what to do in a situation in which you're able to dial 999, but unable to tell the operator you need help.

Silent Solutions, which is the correct procedure to follow, decides whether to dispatch police to thousands of silent callers every day – but not everyone knows what to do.

When you phone 999 (or 112), the operator will ask what emergency service you need.

If there's no request, the assistant will ask you to 'cough' or make some other audible indication so they know there is an emergency.

If making any sound is dangerous, and therefore no request is made, the call will be put through to an automated system, which asks the caller to press '55' if they're in trouble.

If no sound is made and '55' isn't dialled, the police will not attend.

A police spokesman said: "Please do not think that just because you dial 999 that police will attend.


"There must be some indication that the call has not been mis-dialled."