Guide to Reporting:

If you should see something you consider suspicious it is essential that you should report it to the Police immediately - not later, not tomorrow, not to someone else. You are the only one with the details and the only one able to give a full account when you report. Doubts sometimes enter into peoples' minds when they consider reporting an incident to the Police.

Let us deal with these doubts. The question you should ask yourself is "am I quite satisfied that there is nothing suspicious about those things I have just seen?" If you are not fully satisfied then you should report it to the Police. Always remember that your report, like a single piece completing a jigsaw puzzle, may help to complete a criminal investigation. If you report it there and then the Police may be able to take action, whereas tomorrow could be too late. If you are mistaken I guarantee that you will never receive a single word of complaint!

Other doubts arise as some people may not wish to be involved (for very real reasons), the answer to this problems is to ring 0800 555 111 (Crimestoppers) where people can report an incident without revealing their identity and anonymity is guaranteed.

Non-emergency reports such as reporting a suspicious vehicle; an abandoned car; a crime after it has been committed; or to obtain advice ring 0845 60 70 999.

Emergency calls when you think the Police need to arrive quickly, for example when you see or hear someone breaking into a building; a traffic accident where someone is hurt; a fight; or disturbance ring 999.

All reports should be made by telephone or direct to an Officer.

If you wish to report a non-emergency minor crime, you can use the Non-Emergency Minor Crime Notification Service provided by the Online UK Police Service.

Page content last updated on 2007-03-08