Reporting crime

Reporting specific types of crime

Child abuse

Any allegation of abuse against children, under 18 years of age, should be reported. This includes allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.

  • For an immediate response call 999
  • For non-emergencies call 101
  • Alternatively, you can attend your local police station.

Additional support for victims is offered by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and Childline.

Domestic violence

Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults, aged 18 and over, who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender and sexuality.

Report all hate crime to us.
For an immediate response call 999
Police non-emergency number 101
For non-emergency incidents use the online crime reporting service
If you are deaf or have speech impairment you can use a textphone to call us. Dial 18000 in an emergency, or 18001 101 if your call is not an emergency.
For further information and advice on hate incidents contact your local Community Safety Unit.

Community Safety Units, staffed by specially-trained officers, offer support designed to remove barriers that sometimes make it difficult for victims to report this type of crime.

CSU Domestic Violence

Hate crime

Any incident that is perceived by the victim, or any other person to be racist, homophobic, transphobic or due to a person's religion, belief, gender identity or disability.

Report all hate crime to us.
For an immediate response call 999
Police non-emergency number 101
For non-emergency incidents use the online crime reporting service
If you are deaf or have speech impairment you can use a textphone to call us. Dial 18000 in an emergency, or 18001 101 if your call is not an emergency.
For further information and advice on hate incidents contact your local Community Safety Unit.

Community Safety Units are staffed by specially-trained officers, offer support designed to remove barriers that sometimes make it difficult for victims to report this type of crime.

CSU Hate Crime

Rape and sexual assault

The Met has special arrangements to help victims of rape and sexual assault because of the particular circumstances faced by victims and the fact that they may find it difficult to talk about what has happened. For more information visit our Sapphire pages.

It is important to dial 999 if an emergency response is needed.

Fraud and scams

Fraud


Action Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) have been set up to co-ordinate fraud investigations which may involve enquiries throughout the UK and overseas. Through this central facility, which is overseen by the City of London Police, trends and linked cases can be found and passed to the correct Police or other law enforcement organisations for investigation.

For more details on how to report fraud online please visit our Fraudalert website

Terrorism

If you have information about possible terrorist activity call the anti-terrorist hotline confidentially on 0800 789 321.

For warnings about possible bombs or other immediate threats call 999.

Reporting indecent images of children

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) operates the UK internet hotline for reporting criminal online content. Their remit covers three areas:

  • Child sexual abuse images hosted worldwide
  • Criminally obscene adult content hosted in the UK
  • Non-photographic child sexual abuse images (drawings and computer-generated imagery) hosted in the UK

In partnership with police, Government, the internet industry, and international partners, the IWF works to remove criminal content online and helps to make the internet a safer place for everyone.

Don’t ignore it, report it!

If you stumble across such images accidentally you should report them to the IWF.

Why should I report these images?

Reports from the public help the IWF to remove the images from the internet and to support the investigative processes which could bring those responsible to justice.
Child sexual abuse images record the real abuse of a child and your reports to the IWF might help the authorities to trace and rescue a young victim from further exploitation.

How do I report?

Go to the IWF website www.iwf.org.uk and complete the step-by-step form. The form is easy to navigate and reports can be submitted anonymously.

Alternatively, you can call the Child Abuse Imagery Information Line - a helpline for reporting indecent images of children

Reporting crime

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