Whitehall 1212
For the early 1950s radios show, see Whitehall 1212 (radio show).
Whitehall 1212 was the famous telephone number of Scotland Yard.[1][2] It was introduced in 1934 and was used by the public to contact the London Metropolitan Police information room for both emergency and non-emergency business.[3] With the introduction of the 999 number for emergencies in 1937, Whitehall 1212 (dialled as WHI 1212) remained in use for non-emergencies until the 1960s[1] and the introduction of all-figure numbering. Today the switchboard number for New Scotland Yard is 020 7230 1212, and the last 4 digits of the telephone number for a number of other Metropolitan police buildings end in 1212.[4]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kisch 2010, p. 48.
- ↑ "Scotland Yard's main gates provided a background in many police films, and it held the original telephone number Whitehall 1212" (Metropolitan Police 2012a).
- ↑ Holland 2010.
- ↑ Metropolitan Police 2012b.
References
- Holland, Gary (13 May 2010). "Why 999 for an emergency?". BBC London. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- Kisch, Conrad (2010). Destination London. Gyldendal Uddannelse. p. 48. ISBN 978-87-02-04141-5.
- Metropolitan Police (2012a). "History of the Metropolitan Police". Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
- Metropolitan Police (2012b). "Non-emergency contact number". Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime. Retrieved May 28, 2013.