What happens when I study a crime?

Investigating crimes, communicable criminals and protecting the community is the police's main job, just they as well help victims and witnesses of criminal offense.

Even if y'all don't study a crime as the victim, someone who saw what happened might do, then it'south likely that you will have to talk to law later on a criminal offense.

If you lot do written report a crime the police will explicate what volition happen next. They should as well give you lot the contact details of the police force officer dealing with your case and a law-breaking reference number. Brand a note of this number somewhere condom – yous will need it if you want to contact the law once again near the incident, or if you desire to make an insurance or bounty claim.

Getting support

When you report a criminal offense the law should also ask you if you are happy for your details to be passed to Victim Support. If you lot say yes, we volition automatically get your contact data and brief details about the crime. We'll then contact you lot to see how we tin can help. If you don't desire us to contact you, tell the law officer. You lot tin can change your mind afterwards and you lot can contact us directly at any time for help and back up.

Making a statement

Once a crime has been reported, the police force will start their investigation and try to find show. As the victim, they'll need to talk to you and collect equally much information as possible so that they tin can write up a statement. If you notice information technology difficult or upsetting to talk to the law, you can ask for a break at whatever indicate.

Victim Personal Statement

Later the interview, yous will exist asked to read the statement and bank check that it is correct. The police volition so enquire you to sign it. They should likewise give you the take a chance to make a split Victim Personal Statement – this is your chance to say how the criminal offense has affected you lot, and information technology volition be taken into account during trial.

Getting prove

The law may also need to collect testify from where the law-breaking took identify, such as photos or fingerprints. If y'all've been injured in a violent attack or suffered a sexual criminal offense, the police will enquire you lot whether y'all agree to take a medical examination. It'due south your decision, but retrieve that this may be an opportunity to get forensic evidence that can assist bring an attacker to justice.

Keeping you informed

Investigations can accept some fourth dimension. The police will requite you the name and phone number of the officeholder or 'crime desk' responsible for your instance and will proceed you informed of developments – you can also contact the police by calling 101. Have your offense number set then that they tin place your case quickly.

What will happen after the police investigation?

If the constabulary find the person who committed the criminal offence, 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 case they may become a reprimand or last warning). With immature offenders they may suggest a restorative justice approach. This could include request you lot if you want to attend a restorative briefing, where you lot would meet the offender along with a trained restorative justice facilitator.

A restorative justice meeting is completely voluntary. Information technology tin give you the chance to enquire the offender questions and tell them how their crime has affected you lot.

Taking the instance to courtroom

The instance will go to court if the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decides that at that place is enough evidence and that it is in the public involvement to prosecute the person defendant. The police do not determine the outcome of a instance; they collect evidence and laissez passer it to the CPS.

The CPS has to consider the impact the criminal offence has had on you, the victim, in making a decision about whether or not they should prosecute. It should too accept into account the views of your family. You tin find out more than information on the CPS website.

Attending court as a witness

If the CPS does prosecute, and the defendant pleads guilty, you lot won't take to go to courtroom.

But if the defendant pleads 'not guilty' or denies function of the offence, you might accept to requite show if you were a witness to the criminal offense (some victims are non witnesses if, for instance, they were burgled when they were away from home). If you are not needed as a witness at court, the constabulary should still keep you informed most what happens in the case.

Find out more near going to courtroom.