Harmonised service of social value

A harmonised service of social value is a type of freephone service available in the European Union and in some non-EU countries (including the countries in the European Economic Area and United Kingdom), which answers a specific social need, in particular which contributes to the well-being or safety of citizens, or particular groups of citizens, or helps citizens in difficulty. The phone numbers and the corresponding service descriptions are managed by the European Commission and harmonised across all EU and EEA member states. Harmonised services of social value use the prefix 116, which is then followed by three digits indicating the type of service.

After the commission has assigned a number, it is then up to the telephone regulator in each country to allocate the number to a telephone service provider and providing organisation of their choice. The first telephone numbers to be allocated are 116&thinsp;000 (missing children helplines), 116&thinsp;111 (child help lines) and 116&thinsp;123 (emotional support helplines).

Assignments
As of March 2010, the following numbers have been assigned by the European Commission: The number 116&thinsp;112 will not be used in order to avoid confusion with the single European emergency number 112. In addition, the number 116&thinsp;116 is in use in Germany as an anti-fraud hotline.

A reservation by the commission obligates member states to make the numbers available for registration by interested parties. However, the listing of a specific number and the associated harmonised service of social value does not carry an obligation for member states to ensure that the service in question is provided within their territory.

National implementations
Each service is now available in at least part of the EU and the UK. The 116&thinsp;117 medical assistance line is the least-widely implemented so far, having only been activated in Austria, Germany, and former EU-member Great Britain. By contrast, the 116&thinsp;000 missing children line is active in 27 countries and the 116&thinsp;111 child helpline is available in 22 countries.

Similar services in other countries
Similar phone number services exist in other countries to serve specific community needs.

Police Assistance Line – 131 444
In Australia the phone number 131 444 is the Police Assistance line and can be used for non-ermegency contact with Police to report a crime, or to make enquiries. Each State or Territory police force administers the Police Assistance line, with routing of a call taking place based on where the call connects if called on a mobile phone. Issues can arise at border towns, or particularly around the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) as it is located entirely within New South Wales (NSW), calls made on a mobile phone may be connected in NSW or vice-versa.

131 444 is called "Policelink" in Queensland.

Crime Stoppers – 1800 333 000
Crime Stoppers is a not for profit run charity organisation that works closely with local police, and allows people to report crime, provide information about unsolved crimes or report suspicious activity anonymously. Reports can be made online, or via the phone number.

Emergency Alert Australia – +61 444 444 444
Emergency Alert Australia is a system that can send text messages or voice recordings to mobile phones and landlines in a specific geographic area to warn the public in that area of an emergency situation, such as bushfires, floods, etc. The messages come from the phone number 0444 444 444 (or +61 444 444 444). The system is also used in NSW for people to look out for high risk missing persons, such as the elderly, or those with mental health problems. The phone number cannot receive calls or text messages.