Living in the UK
Police, safety & law
← Living in the UK: all categories
If you are stopped by the police
The UK has no general duty to carry ID, and being foreign is not grounds for suspicion. If you are stopped and searched, the officer must tell you their name and station, what they expect to find, and why they are legally allowed to search you — and you are entitled to a written record. If you are arrested, you have the right to free legal advice at the police station (ask for the duty solicitor), and to have someone told where you are. An interpreter must be provided if you need one.
Hate crime
Abuse, threats or violence targeting you because of your nationality — including being told to "go home", attacks for speaking your language, or damage to your property — is hate crime, and it is taken seriously. Report it even if you are unsure it "counts": recording matters.
- Emergency: 999. Non-emergency: 101 or your force's website.
- True Vision (report-it.org.uk) — the police's national online hate crime reporting service.
If you are a victim of crime
- Victim Support — free, confidential help whether or not you report to the police (0808 168 9111, 24/7).
- Domestic abuse: the freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 runs 24/7; in an emergency call 999.
Free legal help
- Law Centres Network — find your nearest law centre: independent charities giving free legal advice and casework in housing, employment, benefits, immigration and more.
- Citizens Advice — free, confidential advice on almost anything, everywhere in the UK.
- Check if you qualify for legal aid (GOV.UK) — public funding still covers some housing, domestic abuse, discrimination and immigration matters.
Last reviewed: July 2026.