What happens if I accidentally call 112?
112 is only for emergency assistance. If you call the number for another reason, it is considered abuse (if you do it intentionally) or misuse (if you do it accidentally). Abuse of the emergency number is a criminal offence.
Abuse or misuse of 112
A regrettably large proportion of the calls made to 112 are misdials, prank calls or other forms of abuse or misuse. This is dangerous, as it can prevent a person who really needs help from getting through to the emergency call centre. Abuse or misuse is registered and may lead to criminal prosecution.
Penalties for 112 abuse
Abuse of 112 is a criminal offence. The police will track down anyone who calls 112 for reasons other than those for which it was intended. In cases of abuse the police can request data from the emergency call centre to trace the identity of the caller.
A fine or a prison term
Adults can be fined or sentenced to a prison term. Children who abuse 112 are also punished. The police will send a warning letter to the child’s parents. If this doesn’t help, the child is referred to the nearest office of Halt (a national organisation for the prevention of juvenile crime). The police can also ask a children’s judge to sentence a child under juvenile criminal law.
Accidentally calling 112
It is possible to call 112 by accident, but you can avoid this by following these tips.
Message from the police regarding 112 abuse
If you receive a text message or a voicemail from 112 you may have accidentally made an emergency call, for example while the phone was in your bag or pocket.