What happens when I study a offense?

Investigating crimes, catching criminals and protecting the community is the police force'south main job, but they also help victims and witnesses of crime.

Even if you don't report a crime as the victim, someone who saw what happened might practice, so it's likely that you will have to talk to police later on a criminal offence.

If yous do report a offense the police will explicate what will happen next. They should likewise give you the contact details of the police officer dealing with your case and a criminal offence reference number. Brand a note of this number somewhere safe – you will need it if you want to contact the police once more about the incident, or if you want to make an insurance or compensation merits.

Getting support

When you study a offense the police should likewise enquire you if you are happy for your details to be passed to Victim Support. If you say yes, we volition automatically get your contact information and cursory details nigh the criminal offence. Nosotros'll and then contact yous to run into how we tin help. If you don't want us to contact you, tell the police officeholder. You lot can change your mind afterwards and you can contact usa directly at any time for help and support.

Making a statement

Once a crime has been reported, the police volition start their investigation and try to find evidence. As the victim, they'll need to talk to you lot and collect as much information as possible then that they can write upwards a statement. If you detect information technology hard or upsetting to talk to the police, you lot tin can inquire for a break at any betoken.

Victim Personal Statement

After the interview, you will be asked to read the statement and check that it is right. The police volition then enquire you lot to sign it. They should too give you the chance to make a separate Victim Personal Statement – this is your chance to say how the law-breaking has affected you, and it will exist taken into account during trial.

Getting evidence

The constabulary may also demand to collect bear witness from where the crime took place, such as photos or fingerprints. If you lot've been injured in a tearing assault or suffered a sexual crime, the police will inquire yous whether you concord to have a medical test. It's your determination, but recall that this may be an opportunity to get forensic evidence that tin can help bring an assailant to justice.

Keeping you informed

Investigations can take some fourth dimension. The police will give you lot the proper noun and phone number of the officer or 'crime desk' responsible for your case and will keep you informed of developments – you can likewise contact the police by calling 101. Have your law-breaking number ready and so that they can identify your case speedily.

What will happen after the constabulary investigation?

If the police observe the person who committed the crime, at that place are a number of things that could happen.

Issuing a caution

The police may decide to caution the person (unless they are a young offender, in which instance they may get a reprimand or final warning). With young offenders they may suggest a restorative justice approach. This could include request yous if you want to attend a restorative conference, where you would meet the offender along with a trained restorative justice facilitator.

A restorative justice meeting is completely voluntary. It can give you the chance to ask the offender questions and tell them how their criminal offence has afflicted you.

Taking the example to court

The case will go to court if the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decides that there is enough evidence and that it is in the public interest to prosecute the person accused. The police do not make up one's mind the issue of a case; they collect evidence and pass it to the CPS.

The CPS has to consider the impact the crime has had on yous, the victim, in making a decision nearly whether or not they should prosecute. It should likewise take into business relationship the views of your family. You tin can notice out more information on the CPS website.

Attending courtroom as a witness

If the CPS does prosecute, and the accused pleads guilty, yous won't have to get to court.

But if the defendant pleads 'non guilty' or denies office of the offence, you lot might take to give evidence if you were a witness to the crime (some victims are not witnesses if, for instance, they were burgled when they were abroad from home). If you are not needed as a witness at courtroom, the police should still keep you informed almost what happens in the case.

Find out more about going to court.