Reporting

All crimes and instances of anti-social behaviour should be reported to the police, particularly crimes involving violence, the threat of violence or abuse. If the crime is in progress the most important thing to think about is safety for all those at the scene. Do nothing that would provoke the offender, if possible, get to a safe place and only if safe to do so dial 999.

It is important to report crime to the police to:

• Gain assistance during the commission of a crime in order to protect people, product and property.
• Provide police with information that a crime has been committed in order that appropriate investigative decisions can be taken to identify those responsible.
• Ensure that the police have an accurate understanding of crime within a specific geographic area to inform response and deployment of preventative resource.

In an emergency call 999 if:

• A serious offence is in progress or has just happened
• Someone is in immediate danger of harm
• You need help right away
• Property is in danger of being damaged
• There is the likelihood of a serious disturbance to the public peace.

In a non-emergency call 101:

The following are risk factors to be aware of. Please inform the police if the following apply as it will help them to decide on the most appropriate policing response: 

• If there is a safeguarding issue and a need to protect a vulnerable person, for example children or the elderly.
• Violence has been used or someone has been threatened, physically or verbally. Always report this first e.g. I was assaulted whilst trying to stop a shop theft.
• Where there is an injury or there is a concern for the welfare of somebody at the scene
• Alcohol, mental health issues or drugs are involved or suspected
• If the offender is still at the scene or in the immediate area i.e. the risk is still present
• Young people or foreign nationals are involved or if there are language difficulties
• If there is a risk that evidence will be lost in the ‘immediacy’, for example forensics or witnesses
• If property has been recovered or found

If a person has been detained the police may also request their name and address, this allows checks to be made to ascertain if the person is wanted or a prolific offender. Where a name and address cannot be verified, inform the police.

The police will also ask:

• If there are any witnesses to the incident and their details if they are willing for them to be passed to the police
• If the offender is known
  
  

Other reporting avenues for non-emergency situations

Crimestoppers either by phone on 0800 555 111 or their website.

Reporting a crime online

Where there is access to the internet crimes and anti-social behaviour can be reported via www.police.uk - by entering your post code you will be directed to the right police force.

Reasons to report hate crime

Hate crime can have a devastating psychological effect on the victim. Hate crime often consists of a series of crimes, and the cumulative effect of such incidents and crimes can destroy lives through emotional damage and long-term trauma. For victims of hate crime, the fear of attack may be constant.

Reporting a hate crime 

A hate crime is “any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a personal characteristic, specifically: actual or perceived race, religion/faith, sexual orientation, disability and transgender identity”. 

The five protected characteristics of hate crime:

• Race (e.g. skin colour, ethnicity, citizenship)
• Religion (e.g. faith, atheists, targeting religious premises)
• Sexual orientation (e.g. gay, bisexual, pansexual)
• Gender identity (e.g. transgender, agender, demi-gender)
• Disability (e.g. learning needs, mental health, physical impairment)
• Transgender identity

If you are a victim of violence and abuse in a retail setting and believe it was motivated by any of the protected characteristics listed above, please state this when reporting to the police. This will help the police to assess the appropriate response.

Reasons to report hate crime

Hate crime can have a devastating psychological effect on the victim. Hate crime often consists of a series of crimes, and the cumulative effect of such incidents and crimes can destroy lives through emotional damage and long-term trauma. For victims of hate crime, the fear of attack may be constant.

Reporting a hate crime 

A hate crime is “any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a personal characteristic, specifically: actual or perceived race, religion/faith, sexual orientation, disability and transgender identity”. 

The five protected characteristics of hate crime:

• Race (e.g. skin colour, ethnicity, citizenship)
• Religion (e.g. faith, atheists, targeting religious premises)
• Sexual orientation (e.g. gay, bisexual, pansexual)
• Gender identity (e.g. transgender, agender, demi-gender)
• Disability (e.g. learning needs, mental health, physical impairment)
• Transgender identity

If you are a victim of violence and abuse in a retail setting and believe it was motivated by any of the protected characteristics listed above, please state this when reporting to the police. This will help the police to assess the appropriate response.