Importance of Reporting Crime

Our current campaign “Together We Can” seeks to raise awareness of the work being done to improve, change and challenge policing.

It also seeks to educate people and communities on how the PCC and OPCC can help and support them and improve knowledge of the vital work done on their behalf across the region.

The focus for this campaign this month is specifically on Priority One of PCC Mark Shelford’s, Police, and crime Plan for 2021-2025 – Preventing and Fighting Crime.

An important aspect of trying to prevent crime is ensuring crimes are reported to the police.

If a crime is not reported, the police may not be aware of it, and what is going on in our communities. So, if we report crime, we work together to help prevent crime. Preventing crime reduces the need for a police response and, ultimately the need to punish people. We also lessen the amount of harm to our communities.

There’s more than one way to get in touch with the Police if you have any concerns or see something that you think they should be aware of. We have put together this brief guide on how and when to report a crime.

1. You can report crimes and anti-social behaviour online.
2. In non-emergency situations call 101
3. If you want to report an emergency ring 999
4. You can report anonymously without providing your name or contact information to Crime Stoppers, an independent charity. Call 0800 555 111 or use their online form.
5. You can report cyber crime (e.g., online fraud, crime using computers and online scams) to the Action Fraud Website which is the national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, or call 0300 123 2040.
6. If you feel unsafe in a particular area, you can report this to StreetSafe, you can pin point it on a map in the exact area you want to report. It is designed to support community reporting of local hazards and safety issues.