Emergency contact details and helplines

If there is an emergency, dial 999 for police, fire or ambulance. You can also dial 112 to contact the emergency services if you are anywhere in the European Union.

Find out what you can do to prepare for emergencies at www.pfe.gov.uk.

Adult social care

• Social Care Direct – tel: 0845 60 80 191 (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm)
• Emergency duty team – tel: 07699 391462 (Mon-Fri 5pm-8.30am, all weekends and bank holidays)

Crime

• Sussex Police – tel: 0845 60 70 999 (24hrs, non-emergencies)
• Neighbourhood policing:
  Eastbourne district
  Hastings district
  Lewes district
  Rother district
  Wealden district
• Crimestoppers – tel: 0800 555 111 (24hrs)
  Your call is anonymous and will not be traced.

Highways

• Highways Contact Centre – tel: 0845 60 80 193 (Mon-Thurs 8.30am-5pm, Fri 8.30am-4.30pm)
• Local area highways offices:
  Eastbourne – tel: 01323 410000
  Hastings – tel: 01424 781066
  Eastern – tel: 0845 6080193
  Western – tel: 0845 6080193
• Out of hours or in an emergency – tel: 01323 410051

Hospitals and health

• Conquest Hospital, St Leonards-on-Sea – tel: 01424 755255 (24hrs, has A&E)
• Eastbourne District General Hospital – tel: 01323 417400 (24hrs, has A&E)
• Bexhill Hospital – tel: 01424 755255
• Lewes Victoria Hospital – tel: 01273 474153
• Uckfield Community Hospital – tel: 01825 769999
• NHS Direct – tel: 0845 46 47 (24hr call back service)

Household

• British Red Cross fire and emergency support service – tel: 0800 587 8929
  Practical help and emotional support for vulnerable people affected by a domestic fire or similar incident.

Community fire safety

• East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service – tel: 0845 130 8855 (non-emergencies)

Electricity

• EDF Energy – tel: 0800 783 8866 (24hrs)

Gas

• National Gas Emergency Service – tel: 0800 111 999 (24hrs)

Water and flooding

• Drinking water, South East Water – tel: 0845 602 1724
• Waste water, Southern Water – tel: 0800 820 999 (24hrs)
• Water leak alert line (to report a leak from a water main), South East Water – tel: 0800 028 3399
• Flooding alerts for your area and advice on how to prepare, Floodline – tel: 0845 988 1188 (24hrs)

Helplines

• Samaritans – tel: 08457 90 90 90 (24hrs)
  Confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

Animal welfare

• RSPCA – tel: 0870 55 55 999 (24hrs)
  To report an act of cruelty, neglect or concern about the welfare of an animal.

Alcohol and drugs

• Alcoholics Anonymous – tel: 0845 769 7555 (24hrs)
  Free advice line if you, or someone you know, needs help with a drink problem.
• DrinkLine – tel: 0800 917 8282 (Mon–Fri 9am–11pm)
  Confidential service. Callers can listen to recorded information or talk to an adviser.
• National Drugs Helpline ‘Talk to Frank’ – tel: 0800 77 66 00 (24hrs), textphone: 0800 917 8765 or email: frank@talktofrank.com
  Free, confidential information and advice about drugs.
• Smokers Quitline – tel: 0800 00 22 00
  Practical help, advice and support to all smokers who want to stop.

Children

• Childline – tel: 0800 1111 (24hrs)
  Children and young people can call about any problem, at any time.
• NSPCC Child Protection Helpline – tel: 0808 800 5000 (24hrs),
  textphone: 0800 056 0566 or email: help@nspcc.org.uk
  Use this free number if you have any concerns about the welfare of a child.
• Still Birth & Neonatal Death Society – tel: 020 7436 5881 (Mon-Fri 10am-3pm)
  Support for parents and families whose baby is stillborn or dies soon after birth.

Debt and gambling

• National Debtline – tel: 0808 808 4000
  Free, confidential and independent advice on dealing with debt problems.
• Gamblers Anonymous – tel: 020 7384 3040
  Aims to help compulsive gamblers overcome their addiction.

Domestic violence and rape

• Refuge – tel: 0808 2000 247(24hrs)
  Emotional support and advice for victims of domestic violence, particularly on accommodation issues.
• Women's Aid Helpline – tel: 0808 2000 247 (24hrs)
  Provides support, information and a listening ear to women experiencing domestic abuse and to those seeking help on a woman's behalf.
• Rape Crisis Centre – email: info@rapecrisis.org.uk
  Service for people who have suffered rape or sexual assault.
• Broken Rainbow – tel: 08452 60 44 60 or email: lgbtdv@btopenworld.com
  Helpline for victims of domestic violence who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Elderly

• Age Concern information line – tel: 0800 00 99 66 (7am-7pm, 365 days a year)
  Service for older people, their relatives and friends, and professionals and carers.
• Elder Abuse Response helpline – tel: 0808 808 8141 (Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm)
  Freephone helpline for anyone concerned about the abuse of older people.
• Help the Aged's Seniorline – tel: 0808 800 6565 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) or textphone 0800 26 96 26
  Offers advice and information on welfare rights issues.

Homeless

• Shelterline – tel: 0808 800 4444 (8am-8pm)
  Call freephone to talk in confidence and receive expert housing advice.

Immigration

• Immigration Advisory Service – tel: 020 7967 1200 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm) or 020 7378 9191 (answerphone)
  Call back service for urgent advice on detention, deportation or removal.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender

• Local counselling and advice listings from ESCIS

Missing persons

• National Missing Persons Helpline – tel: 0500 700 700 (24hrs)
  If you wish to call home, get information about a missing person, or are concerned about a missing friend or relative.
• The Salvation Army's Family Tracing Service – tel: 0845 634 4747 (Mon-Fri 8.15am–3.45pm)
  Local call rate service for tracing relatives with whom contact has been lost.

Relationships

• Relate – tel: 08451 30 40 16 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
  Talk directly to a counsellor about any concerns you have about your relationship.

Terrorism

• Home Office Anti-Terrorism hotline – tel: 0800 789 321
  Call the hotline if you have any tip-offs or confidential information about possible terrorist activity.
• Current threat level

Victim support

• Victim Supportline – tel: 0845 30 30 900 (9am-9pm, Bank holidays 9am-5pm) or email: supportline@victim
  Free and confidential support to help you deal with your experience of crime, whether you reported it or not.