How to Use the Police Agency's Foreign Language Reporting System? Essential Emergency Numbers to Save on Your Phone in Taiwan

When encountering traffic accidents, theft, scams, or personal safety issues, the most important thing is to find the correct channel for help as quickly as possible. For foreigners unfamiliar with Chinese, besides not knowing which number to dial, they may also worry about not being able to inform the police of their location and the situation. In fact, even if your Chinese is not good, you can still dial 110 or go to a police station to report a crime. The police will arrange for an interpreter if necessary. It is recommended to save the following numbers on your phone. 110: Police Reporting Hotline Dial 110 in the following situations: Experiencing crime, robbery, or theft Personal safety is threatened Discovering suspicious persons or incidents Traffic accidents requiring police presence Being followed, harassed, or threatened with violence When reporting, first provide your location, then briefly explain what happened. If you don't know the full address, you can provide nearby shop names, stations, intersections, or prominent landmarks. You can report a crime even if you don't speak Chinese. The National Police Agency states that each police agency has an interpreter contact list. If necessary, you can also contact the foreign affairs police or use other multilingual hotlines to establish a three-way call for communication assistance. If the situation is ongoing, or if someone is in immediate danger, do not delay reporting due to language concerns. 119: Fire, Ambulance, and Emergency Rescue In case of fire, serious injury, sudden loss of consciousness, or other emergencies requiring ambulance and firefighter response, dial 119. When calling, try to explain: · Location of the incident · What happened · How many people are injured · Is there still danger at the scene? If there is someone nearby who speaks Chinese, you can ask them to assist. However, if the situation is urgent, dial immediately and do not spend time looking for a translator. 113: Domestic Violence and Personal Protection If you or someone around you is experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, child abuse, or mistreatment of the elderly or disabled, you can call the 113 protection hotline. 113 is a 24-hour toll-free service and also provides interpreter services in English, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, and Japanese. If there is immediate personal danger, you should prioritize calling 110 for police assistance. 165: Anti-Fraud Consultation Hotline When you receive suspicious phone calls, text messages, or online messages, you can call 165 to verify. For example: · The other party asks you to transfer money or buy gift cards · Someone claims to be from the government, police, or bank and asks for your account information · You receive a notification about "canceling installment payments" after an online purchase · You are asked to hand over your ATM card or assist with collections during a job application · You suspect an investment, dating, or online shopping platform is a scam 165 primarily provides fraud consultation. If you have already transferred money or provided account information, contact your bank immediately and call 110 or go to a police station to report the crime. 1990: Living Consultation for Foreigners in Taiwan 1990 is not an emergency reporting number, but a hotline for living consultations for foreigners and new residents. You can inquire about residency, work, education, taxes, health insurance, transportation, medical care, personal safety, welfare, and legal information. Currently, services are available in Mandarin, English, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, and Cambodian. Mandarin, English, and Japanese services are available 24 hours a day; service hours for other languages are subject to official announcements. If the matter is not an ongoing emergency but you don't know which agency to contact, 1990 is usually a suitable starting point. 1955: Migrant Worker Labor Consultation and Complaint Hotline 1955 primarily serves migrant workers, employers, and recruitment agencies, providing 24-hour toll-free consultation. If you encounter issues with salary, working hours, labor contracts, occupational injuries, agency fees, mistreatment, or personal harm in the workplace, you can call 1955. The hotline offers services in Mandarin, as well as English, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Thai. It can also refer to local government agencies, police, legal aid, or protection and shelter resources as needed. Foreign students or foreign professionals encountering labor disputes can also consult with labor authorities first. The hotline staff can help determine if 1955 is suitable for individual cases. 1925: Mental Support and Well-being Hotline If you feel depressed, stressed, or have thoughts of harming yourself, you can call the 1925 well-being hotline. 1925 provides 24-hour toll-free mental health counseling. If you or someone around you is at immediate risk of self-harm, also call 110 or 119, and try not to leave the person alone. What to prepare before reporting if you don't speak Chinese? · You can save the following in your phone in advance: · Chinese name and English name on passport · Chinese version of your residential address · School, company, or dormitory address · Name and phone number of your emergency contact · Photos of your passport and residence permit · Information on chronic illnesses, allergies, and medications Your phone's location can also help police or ambulance personnel confirm your location. In an emergency, you can start with simple English: Police, please. Ambulance, please. I need help. My location is… Then provide the address, landmark, or send your location. Even if your language is not perfect, letting the other party know the location and type of danger is more important than spending time organizing a complete sentence. Recommended numbers to save on your phone: 110 Police Reporting 119 Fire, Ambulance, and Emergency Rescue 113 Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Protection Services 165 Anti-Fraud Consultation 1990 Living Consultation for Foreigners in Taiwan 1955 Migrant Worker Labor Consultation and Complaint 1925 Mental Support and Well-being Hotline These numbers have different purposes. When life, personal safety, or property is threatened, call 110 or 119 directly, not general consultation hotlines first. Save frequently used numbers, Chinese addresses, and emergency contacts in your phone in advance, so you don't have to search frantically when you encounter a situation.