Sign inPlans

The phonetic alphabet.

Alpha to Zulu, the way it’s used on police radios across the UK. Type a name, number plate or postcode and we’ll spell it out.

Alpha Bravo One Two, Charlie Delta Echo

Alpha to Zulu

  • AAlpha
  • BBravo
  • CCharlie
  • DDelta
  • EEcho
  • FFoxtrot
  • GGolf
  • HHotel
  • IIndia
  • JJuliet
  • KKilo
  • LLima
  • MMike
  • NNovember
  • OOscar
  • PPapa
  • QQuebec
  • RRomeo
  • SSierra
  • TTango
  • UUniform
  • VVictor
  • WWhiskey
  • XX-ray
  • YYankee
  • ZZulu

Numbers are said digit by digit: 152 is “one five two”, and 0 is “zero”.

Radio words you’ll hear

Common across forces. Each force has its own call signs and procedures, and you’ll learn those in training.

ReceivedI’ve heard and understood your message.
Go aheadI’m ready: send your message.
Say againRepeat your message, or the part I missed.
Stand byWait. I’ll come back to you.
Affirmative / NegativeYes / no, said so they can’t be misheard.
ETAEstimated time of arrival.
Urgent assistanceAn officer needs help now. Everything else stops.

Joining the police?

Start ahead.

The alphabet takes an afternoon. The assessment and the law take longer. See how you’d do on the police situational judgement test, free.

Free SJT mockHow to join the police

Questions people ask

What phonetic alphabet do the UK police use?

The international (NATO) phonetic alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.

Why do police use the phonetic alphabet?

Letters like B, D, P and T sound alike over a radio or phone. Saying “Bravo Delta Papa” means names, number plates and postcodes are passed accurately the first time.

How do police say a number plate?

Letter by letter in the phonetic alphabet, and numbers digit by digit. AB12 CDE is “Alpha Bravo One Two, Charlie Delta Echo”.

Is it Alpha or Alfa, Juliet or Juliett?

The official international spellings are Alfa and Juliett, so that speakers of other languages say them correctly. UK police usually write and say Alpha and Juliet; the sound is what matters.

Keep reading