Public Safety
There are three individual police forces within London.
Metropolitan Police
The Metropolitan Police http://www.met.police.uk/ have authority within Greater London except for the City of London. The Met police, as an entity, is long known as Scotland Yard.
City of London Police
City of London www.cityoflondon.police.uk police have authority within the square mile of the City of London. This is basically the financial district of London. One difference between the City and Met police is the badge. The Metropolitan Police wear a silver badge whereas the City cops wear a gold badge. Well yea, that is were all the money is. At one time the London police wore copper badges and that is where the name copper came from with reference to the police.
British Transport Police
British Transport police http://www.btp.police.uk/ have authority on all public transportation. Go to their links site for links to the national rail companies.
London Ambulance http://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/
London Fire Brigade http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/
Emergency Services
The emergency phone number for the United Kingdom and Ireland is 999; no coins are required.
This is for police, fire or ambulance.
Call 999 when a life is in danger, including possible stroke.
How to Call Emergency Services
Unlike the states where one just gets connected with a call taker (who dispatches help), the UK is different. You will get a phone company operator who will ask what service you require; police, fire, medical. You will then be connected to an operator for that service. Should you not be sure who should respond to your call you will be connected to one more operator before your final operator. Still, stay calm.
A non-emergency number of 0300 123 1212 will direct you to the Metropolitan Police switchboard.
An emergency service used across the European Union uses 112. It was established in 1991. The 112 number is a GSM mobile standard. Both 999 and 112 work in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
London Ambulance Service
This service is provided by: London Ambulance Service. They transport people to hospital during emergencies or when you are experiencing an emergency. Once again, call 999. They also provide service if you need transport to hospital (by pre-arrangement) or in need of finding a hospital bed. Do read their site as it has a lot of good information.