London

Emergency: 999 or 112. Give the street, building and postcode if known. A contact outside the UK needs a separate plan for reaching the relevant local service. [S72]

Treat the phone as an access device

Metropolitan Police guidance covers phone theft, remote locking, provider notification and protecting linked accounts. For a whale, the important inventory includes email, password recovery, banking and exchange access as well as wallet apps. Prepare a backup contact and payment method before the trip. [S71]

Check directions from a sheltered or staffed place instead of standing distracted at the kerb. Keep the phone off café tables and avoid exposing passcodes. If it is taken, do not pursue the thief or follow a tracking pin. Use the response in chapter 40 from a clean device.

Book the right transport

London black taxis can be hailed or taken from a rank. Minicabs must be booked through a licensed operator. Check the driver and registration against the confirmation before boarding; a vehicle waiting outside a venue is not proof of your booking. [S82]

Arrange the return before a dinner or event. If the driver changes, verify through the original operator while remaining somewhere staffed. Make room for luggage and suitable child seating in the booking rather than resolving it at the kerb.

Meetings and financial introductions

Confirm the firm, individual and location through independent contact details. For a private club or hotel meeting, know who is hosting and keep control of departure. Do not open balances, install a “meeting fix” or sign a transaction to establish identity.

Check the FCA register, permitted activities and matching contact details. FCA registration alone does not mean the Financial Services Compensation Scheme or Financial Ombudsman will cover a crypto loss. Confirm the protections for the actual product and entity. [S81]

Longer stays and family privacy

Review access for cleaners, contractors, concierge staff and parcel handling. Keep children’s schedules and the address away from public social accounts. Give household staff authority to pause a purported urgent request from an adviser or relative.

The UK has its own visa and ETA process. Check each family member before booking a side trip from continental Europe. [S84]

After a theft: reach safety, report promptly and preserve the incident reference. Use the manufacturer's genuine lost-device route and alert affected providers. Do not unlock or remove the device from your account because an unsolicited message claims it has been found. [S58] [S71]