Home > The Justice Process > Reporting a Crime

Reporting a Crime

By: Dave Howell - Updated: 12 Sep 2019 | comments*Discuss
 
Reporting Crime Emergency 999 Benefit

Only a fraction of the crimes committed across the UK are ever reported to the police. It is important that you do report any crime even if you think its minor to your local police force as this enables them to calculate their performance and see which areas of their services they need to improve.

If you need to report a crime in an emergency dial 999 from any telephone. The call should be completely free. Some of today’s cordless phones rely on their base stations being connected permanently to the mains electricity. These phones won’t enable you to dial 999 in an emergency, so make sure you have another phone available in your home. Your mobile phone should allow you to make 999 calls.

Some crimes that you may witness won’t be emergencies. It’s important that you don’t use the emergency 999 number for reporting minor crimes. If you do want to report a minor crime contact your local police station. You can find their number in your local telephone directory, or you can look up their number online at: www.police.uk/forces.htm.

When you Call

The police will be grateful that you have taken the trouble to report a crime to them. They will require certain information from you so they can record the details of the crime you have witnessed. These details include:
  • Where the crime took place.
  • The date and time of the crime.
  • A description of what happened.
  • If you saw any other witnesses.
  • If a vehicle was involved, try and remember its make, model, colour and registration number. They will also ask if the vehicle had any distinguishing marks.

Young People

If you are a young person who has become the victim it’s important that you report this as soon as possible. If you have been attacked, dial 999 as soon as you can. None emergency crimes such as your mobile phone being stolen should be reported to your local police station. Don’t use the emergency number to report these types of crimes.

Whatever type of crime you report you will probably have to give a statement. Try and tell the police, as much as you can about the crime you witnessed or that you were a part of as a victim. Your statement will be used if the case goes to court. If you are nervous about giving report the crime, you can use the Crimestoppers website.

Crimestoppers

It may be difficult for you to report a crime for hear of reprisals against you. This is where the Crimestoppers website can help. You can call the service completely anonymously and free on: 0800 555 111 or visit their website. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Benefit Fraud

The cost of benefit fraud costs hundreds of millions of pounds each year. The Department for Work and Pensions has a benefit fraud hotline you can call if you think someone is claiming benefits they shouldn’t. The phone number is: 0800 854 440. You can call between 7.00am and 11.00pm 7 days a week.

Help for Victims

If you have become the victim of a crime you can get help and support from Victim Support. On their website you can find help and advice. Don’t suffer in silence. You can contact Victim Support by telephoning: 0845 30 30 900 or by visiting their website: www.victimsupport.org.uk

You might also like...
Share Your Story, Join the Discussion or Seek Advice..
My next door neighbour has been released from prison earlier and is out on tag, she keeps anti social behaviour up every night, she takes drugs, I’ve been a victim of this for 13 months now and can’t cope anymore. My local police and council have done nothing to protect me. In the past by my neighbour I’ve had a house fire, she’s tried to break into my property 4 times in the past, I’ve had criminal damage to my property caused by her, even had drills through my ceiling and dictaphone put in her floor boards to record me. Police and council done absolute nothing. I believe I’m been harassed and constantly intimated by her. I want some legal advice on how to get her recalled back to prison
Shorty - 12-Sep-19 @ 3:08 AM
Mypartner is a repeat offender. Would he be eligible for HDC?
Kasey - 30-Aug-12 @ 1:21 PM
Share Your Story, Join the Discussion or Seek Advice...
Title:
(never shown)
Firstname:
(never shown)
Surname:
(never shown)
Email:
(never shown)
Nickname:
(shown)
Comment:
Validate:
Enter word:
Topics
Latest Comments
  • P1P
    Re: Information About Parole Board Hearings
    My son had his parole hearing on 22nd Feb2024, he was granted release, he was told he would be released after a…
    6 March 2024
  • Loger
    Re: Probation and Community Sentencing
    I finished my order in January I am up for breach in April now my order is finished do I have to still attend probation…
    5 March 2024
  • social-issues
    Re: Pre-Sentence Reports
    Hello hk, I can't see what the problem is, unless the subject is planning to be unavailable. If what you are saying is that the Probation…
    28 February 2024
  • Paul778883
    Re: Failure to Attend Jury Service
    I would just ignore the letter. Bin it then if if it does hit the fan just say you never knew. Even then if they call me in I…
    21 February 2024
  • Kim
    Re: Make a Claim in the Small Claims Court
    Elderly parents got a builders quote for works. Agree to price, builder said half up front in cash for materials,…
    15 February 2024
  • Tonks
    Re: What Will Happen if I Don't Turn Up at Court?
    My partner is in court in Birmingham Crown in June CPS have ordered me to court on this date I've with drawn…
    10 February 2024
  • Jasica
    Re: Handling a Divorce
    Hello I need all kinds of help. But I don't know English so I am going through difficult times. Because I am very weak physically and…
    5 February 2024
  • Jasica
    Re: Handling a Divorce
    Hello I need all kinds of help. But I don't know English so I am going through difficult times. Because I am very weak physically and…
    5 February 2024
  • Kristina
    Re: Information about the Magistrates court
    I have been served with papers to put a partial closure order on my front door due to asbo and people loitering in…
    5 February 2024
  • Temple
    Re: Caught Drink Driving
    My daughter crashed her car, no one else was involved. Passers-by helped move the car off the road and she got a lift to my other daughters…
    4 February 2024