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Reporting a crime
The Police Investigation
Going to court
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Help for Witnesses
Have you witnessed a crime?
We rely on people like you to let us know if you have witnessed a crime or incident of anti-social behaviour.
If you have come forward as a witness, you may be requested to give evidence at a subsequent court trial of those suspected of the offence. Your evidence may be vital in bringing to justice those responsible for such crimes, but we understand this can sometimes be a daunting experience.
This section provides you with information about what happens when you go to court as a witness, the measures that can be put into place to help you to give evidence, who the relevant officials are in court and what they do, and details of who you can contact if you would like to talk to someone about being a witness.
What if I witnessed a crime but the police didn’t take a statement from me?
In many cases and for many reasons, the police may not need to take a formal statement from every single witness to an incident. You may have spoken to the investigating officers, and told them what you saw or heard but they may decide not to ask you to make a formal statement. If that does happen to you, please don’t be put off. The police should explain why, but if they don’t, you can always ask them.
If you feel upset by what you witnessed and would like to talk to someone about it, you can still contact Voice for support.
What if I witnessed a serious crime but I don’t want to report it to the police?
If you have witnessed a violent or serious crime and your evidence feels important, we really encourage you to contact the police, as it could be you or one of your family or friends next time.
The police may already know about it, but your evidence could be crucial to a suspect being caught and held to account, and the victim getting justice.
But we understand that not everyone feels able to do this. You may contact Voice for support whether or not you have been in contact with the police.
Have you reported your crime to the police?
YES NOLast modified 14th November 2016
"I felt so much better after reporting what I'd seen...
I must admit I was worried about reporting a crime, as I felt nervous about the response I might get. When I did, my opinion changed, everyone was very understanding and helpful. They were sympathetic to my concerns and didn’t make me feel like a nuisance.”
