Reporting a crime

What happens if you don’t want to report the crime?

There can be many reasons why you don’t want to report a crime to the police, such as not wanting to involve them because there was no personal injury or damage to property, or feeling there’s no point, or being concerned about reprisals. Either way, it is completely up to you and no one can force you to report it. However, should you want to then you can find out how to below.

If you still choose not to report the crime then we will still provide you with emotional support and practical advice to help you get back to being you.

What do you do if you want to report the crime?

If you are a victim of crime, or if you see a crime taking place, it is up to you whether you tell the police. If you choose to then you can do this a number of ways:

• Call 999 if it is an emergency
• If the incident is a non-emergency then you can call 101 to report it
• If you would prefer to remain anonymous then you can call Crimestoppers by phoning 0800 555 111

When reporting, make sure you give the police as much information as possible. They will then advise you on what will happen next, what you need to do and how you can access support, such as through the Victim Advice Line.

What happens once you’ve reported the crime?

In line with your rights as a victim, once you have reported the crime to the police, they must give you:

• Written confirmation of the crime you’ve reported
• A crime reference number
• Contact details for the police officer dealing with your case

They may also ask you to write a victim personal statement. This is slightly different to the one given to the police when the crime was first reported. This statement can include information about how the crime has affected you: physically; mentally; emotionally; and financially. This statement can be read out in court should it go to that stage.

During the police investigation, they must give you updates and tell you within five days when a suspect is:

• Arrested or charged
• Set free or released on bail
• Given a caution, reprimand, final warning or penalty notice

When the police have finished their investigation then it is passed onto the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who decide if there’s enough evidence to take it to court.

You may be left feeling angry or annoyed if your case doesn’t go to court. If you experience these feelings then you can make contact with your care coordinator again and chat things through.

So what happens if it does go to court?