116 000 – emergency number for missing children

What is 116 000?

As a member of the EU, Sweden is required to have an EU-wide hotline number for reporting missing children.

The Ministry of Social Affairs is responsible for the 116 000 emergency number in Sweden and has assigned SOS Alarm to provide the service. The emergency number is available around the clock, all year round, regardless of which EU country you are in.

How the 116 000 emergency number works

You can call the 116 000 emergency number 24 hours a day to:

• report your child missing.
• report that you have found a child who has been reported missing
• report if you find a child who is lost or has become separated from his or her family.
• search for information about your missing child.

Please note that when reporting a missing or found child, you can also call the emergency number 112. Children are defined as those aged 0-18 years.

To reach the emergency number for missing children, dial 116 000 without an area code. The call is free of charge.

What happens when I call 116 000?

SOS Alarm answers the emergency number. SOS operators handle calls to 116 000 similar to a 112 call. The SOS operator asks only a few questions before the call is transferred to the police, who then conduct a more in-depth interview.

The SOS operators speak Swedish and English. If another language is needed, an interpreter service is available. However, depending on the language, it may take several minutes before an interpreter can be arranged for the language in question.