Reporting the crime

Click here for the official advice for witnesses on reporting crime. We do not think it is much help as  (a) the online reporting function on the page has been discontinued, (b) the link to the police is missing, and (c) Crimestoppers – the only contact given - is not able to help or deal with witness evidence or statements as its role is to pass anonymous tip-offs to the police. 

Our advice is to contact the local police for the area where the crime occurred or your own. As the official advice suggests, you can visit the local station but we would only endorse this if you have a lot of time on your hands. Rather we suggest that you use this helpful link to find the local neighbourhood police team that covers the area where the attack happened and tell them when and where the attack happened and say you would like  to speak to the investigating officer.  If you cannot find the relevant team, use the link to contact your own local team and ask them to put you in touch with the right officers. 

Please note that as some forces uses 0845 numbers to raise revenue, it can be cheaper to make the initial contact by email.

It’s helpful to keep a note of the names of the officers you deal with and it’s polite to let them know you are doing this.

If the only information you have can be helpful to the police without you being involved further – e.g. you have the registration number of the car the attacker was using or you happen to know the attacker by name or know his address – then if you don't want to talk to the officer handling the case, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or through their website and they will be able to pass on the information without identifying you.  Crimestoppers has asked to point out that, contrary to the perception of many, they are an independent charity and not part of the police and that they will not ask for or keep any personal details.

While we don't think its information on reporting the crime is much help, the Crown Prosecution Service does have an informative and engaging section on witnesses and we recommend that to anyone who wants to understand the process ahead of them.  In terms of violent crimes and anxieties about whether to report, we think the CPS booklet Jerome's Story - which is aimed at young people - is both realistic and helpful.