The number you need depends on whether you are in a town or the countryside: 19 for city police, 177 for the gendarmerie everywhere else.
- 19 is the police in cities and towns, 177 the Gendarmerie Royale in rural areas and on highways. That split is the thing to remember.
- 15 is ambulance and fire, and 112 works from any mobile and routes you, which is the safe choice when you are not sure exactly where you are.
- The Brigade Touristique is the tourist police, with a station beside Jemaa el-Fna in Marrakech and equivalents in Fez, Casablanca, Agadir and Tangier.
- For theft, insist on a written police report. Insurers require it and you cannot get one afterwards; a lost passport means your embassy in Rabat, police report first.
- In the mountains or the desert, evacuation takes hours. Tell your riad or your guide where you are going and when you expect to be back.
The numbers
| Number | Service |
|---|---|
| 19 | Police, in cities and towns |
| 177 | Gendarmerie Royale, rural areas and highways |
| 15 | Ambulance and fire |
| 112 | Works from a mobile and routes you |
| Brigade Touristique | Tourist police, in every major city |
- The split between 19 and 177 is the thing to remember. City police do not cover the countryside and the gendarmerie does.
- 112 works from any mobile and is the safe choice if you are unsure where you are.
- The Brigade Touristique has a station beside Jemaa el-Fna in Marrakech and equivalents in Fez, Casablanca, Agadir and Tangier. They deal with visitors in French, English and Arabic.
If something goes wrong
- Theft: go to the police and insist on a written report. Insurers require it and you will not get one afterwards.
- A dispute with a shop, guide or driver: the Brigade Touristique is the right place, and their involvement usually settles it on the spot.
- Lost passport: your embassy is in Rabat, with consulates in Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir and Tangier for many countries. You need the police report first.
- Card lost or stolen: freeze it in the app, then call your bank. Getting cash sent to Morocco is slow.
- Medical emergency: go private if you can. A city clinic will treat you fast and bill you, and your insurer reimburses.
- In the mountains or desert, evacuation takes hours. Tell your riad or your guide where you are going and when you expect to be back.
Consular reality
- Morocco is friendly and well policed for visitors, and most trips need none of this.
- Keep a photo of your passport in your phone and a paper copy separately.
- Note your insurer's 24 hour number before you fly, not from a hospital corridor.
- Register with your embassy's travel service if you are going deep into the Atlas or the Sahara.
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