How do the police get someone’s phone number?

[mindutopia]

I made a 101 report about harassment recently (related to my daughter, different thread). The police officer rang me today to discuss and was actually lovely and really helpful. He also rang Dh, but dh didn’t answer as didn’t know who it was. I didn’t include Dh’s number on the report, but I suppose they could have gotten it from the school who have also been involved.

The PC said he would ring the person I filed the complaint against and have a word with him. I have no idea what his number would be. I don’t even know his address (had to sort of explain which house it was by the colour).

Purely out of curiosity, how do the police get someone’s number? I very much doubt they have a landline. We haven’t had one in 15 years. It would be mobile numbers only. Dh seems to think there is some master database somewhere with all our information on it, but I feel like that’s a bit naive. My GP and my hospital consultants can’t even talk to each other because of the lack interoperability between their systems. 😂

I’m guessing if someone has had previous involvement with the police they would be able to pull that up and possibly get a number. But otherwise how do they get someone’s number just to give them a call to speak to them? Or does someone literally have to go knocking at the door?

They have access to a data base. Probs the census. When you ring to report something the name and number and address all comes in their screen

If you have a mobile phone contract in your name your name would be registered to that number i presume?

I suppose this guy does have a mobile phone, though he’s paranoid so maybe not a contract or anything linking him to the phone 😂, but can police just access mobile phone company records to get a phone number to make a call? I can see in a criminal investigation, but it surprises me if those systems link up.

Same thing with census records. Would it have mobile numbers attached? I don’t ever recall giving the census my mobile number. What if you’ve moved or changed your number since the last census? What if you refuse to participate?

It may be he is known to the police. Lots of people are for all sorts of things eg they've reported things themselves, minor neighbour disputes, welfare concerns

Erm no this does not happen

I was left open mouthed after being pulled over for jumping an amber traffic light. The first thing the police-child asked me was did I have my contact lenses in because I normally wear glasses. How, HOW did he know that??!!!

It’s on your driving licence.