We never changed emergency numbers. It might have referred to when we changed directory enquiries from a single one operated by your phone provider to multiple options with the prefix 118 xxx. Or perhaps when we extended emergency services to also have non emergency numbers for police and health issues.

Otherwise it's been 999 for decades (with 112 also routed to the same).

[–] tristan@aussie.zone 22 points 10 months ago (2 children)

It was the IT crowd, a TV show, not real life

[–] meekah@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The original comment did read like it was an actual thing happening in England, though

[–] Aggravationstation@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

It did, but the numbers never changed.

I've lived in England for all of my 36 years and it's always been 999.

[–] jballs@sh.itjust.works 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I'm not British, so I don't know the history of this. The article I took my info specifically said:

Until 2003, you could call directory enquiries (to find out the phone number of someone if you knew their name and address) by dialing 192. That system was privatized, and you had to dial 118 NNN, where the NNN was the number assigned to a commercial service provider, the most famous of which became 118 118.

So the joke in the show was basically, "what if we did to emergency services what we did to directory enquiries".

[–] Aggravationstation@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago

Lol yea, I forgot that happened.

Don't think I've ever used directory enquiries in my life. I was 16 in 2003 and we already had the internet at home by then.

[–] 15liam20@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

How do you know? When is the last time you checked?

[–] Aggravationstation@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

You're right. I'd best give them a call to be on the safe side. Sure they won't mind if I explain why.

[–] r00ty@kbin.life 0 points 10 months ago

No, really? Wow, this is completely new information!

[–] GeneralEmergency@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

Are you sure about that. They specifically called out England and not the UK. That is a sure fire way to tell that they know what they're talking about.