Reporting a crime

Whenever you report a crime to us, whether you are a victim or a witness, we will ask you to:

• Provide as much information as you can about the offence
• Tell us if you are worried about you (or your family’s) safety, so we can give you appropriate advice, for example, if you are worried about the suspect returning or the offence was made worse by racial abuse or hatred directed at you.
• Provide your full address and telephone contact details, including your email address if you have one. Let us know how you would prefer to be contacted and the most suitable time of day to do so. This will allow us to update you with the progress of the investigation.
• Update us with any other changes - you may have noticed further losses or damage since you first reported the offence, or you may be suffering further effects from an injury caused by the crime.

During the investigation

Please remember to tell us if your contact details change, quoting your crime reference number, so that we can keep you up to date with any developments.

Under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime we will do our best to notify you:

• If a person or people have been charged, reported or cautioned for the offence
• If a person has been released on police bail, any bail conditions have been altered, or where no further action is taken
• If the investigation has come to an end
• If the case goes to court, consideration to be given to making a compensation order in your favour
• Of the result of the court case, and in the more serious cases, to be told the result of any appeal against conviction or sentence
• We will also give you advice about applying for compensation for personal injury from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

The role of the media

The media can play an important role in tackling crime. For the purposes of investigating an offence, catching criminals or for crime prevention, the police may release details of the case to the press. If you are concerned about this happening, tell the police officer dealing with your case.