Emergency services

In the North West, as in the rest of the UK, there are 5 emergency services. Each has a different function:

• Police – the Police act as the main law enforcement body and crime fighting organisation in the UK. There are 45 police forces across the UK, 5 of them in the North West. Which police force covers your area depends on where you live. More information on each police force, and how to contact them, is in the table below.
• Fire & Rescue Service – the Fire & Rescue Service’s main role is to respond to and tackle fires. However, they also respond to other incidents such as: road traffic accidents, building collapses, environmental disasters and other life threatening emergencies. There are 44 Fire & Rescue Services in the UK, 5 of them in the North West. Which Fire and Rescue service covers your areas depends on where you live. More information on each Fire & Rescue Service, and how to contact them, is in the table below.
• Ambulance Service – the main role of the Ambulance Service is to respond to health emergencies, to give emergency medical treatment and to transport people to hospital. There are 14 ambulance services in the UK. The North West is covered by the North West Ambulance Service. More information on how to contact them is in the table below.
• HM Coastguard – HM Coastguard is the UK’s national sea and costal (maritime) emergency service. The main role of HM Coastguard is to respond to incidents around the UK’s coasts and at sea. An important role is search and rescue. However, it also responds to security incidents, environmental accidents and natural disasters.
• Mountain Rescue – Mountain Rescue Teams work across specific parts of the UK where there is mountainous ground. There are 47 teams across 8 regions in England and Wales. The North West is served by a number of these teams. Please see the Mountain Rescue website in the table below for more information.