Witness Walkthrough - Reporting what you know
Reporting what you know
You may have information you think the police should know, or you may have information you think they need. However, you may not be sure what will happen if you contact the police. You do have a choice. It is up to you to decide whether or not to report what you know about a crime.
If you report what you know, this may lead to the person who committed the crime being caught and prevented from doing the same thing to someone else. So your information could be vital in bringing the person who committed the crime to justice. By reporting what you know, you are helping your community.
If you have witnessed a crime, you may be feeling a number of different emotions (for example, you may be upset, shocked or angry). This is quite normal, and everyone reacts differently to what they have seen. You may not be sure whether or not you want to report what you saw or know about a crime.
The police understand this and they will reassure you. You may not want to get involved if you know that there are other witnesses who can report the crime. However, the police need as much information as possible and, even if there are other witnesses, your report can still help.
If you decided not to report what you know about a crime at the time it happened, you can tell the police what you know at a later date. The police will always be grateful for the information and it may be a great help or even vital.
You may think there is no point reporting what you know because the crime does not seem serious. However, what may seem like a minor crime to you may not seem like a minor crime to the victim. Even crimes that do not appear to have victims (for example, vandalism and graffiti) can have a negative effect on your community.
The police understand that crime can be very upsetting and will take you and all reports seriously. The police have to prioritise what they can and cannot do They do not have the staff to investigate all the crimes reported to them, but your information can help the police spot any trends (for example, car vandalism in a particular area).
Witness Support
You may be worried about giving evidence in court. However, if the suspect is caught and pleads guilty, there may not be a trial at all and you may not have to give evidence in court. Your information may help to provide evidence that is strong enough to prove that a suspect has committed a crime. This might make the suspect more likely to plead guilty.
If you do have to give evidence in court, the Witness Service, which is provided by Victim Support, can give you practical and personal support. There are also special measures available to help vulnerable or intimidated witnesses give evidence in court. More information about the Witness Service and special measures is given later.