Crime in Public
How to Report a Crime:
It is important to know the correct way to get help or report crime if you have been a victim or have witnessed a crime.
In an Emergency
(If you’ve been mugged, badly hurt or attacked in any way or seen a serious crime)
– Call the police on 999 as soon as possible
– If on public transport use the passenger alarm or speak to the nearest member of staff
Non-Emergency Crimes or General Police Enquiries
(If you want to report a minor crime, such as your phone being stolen, your property being damaged, you suspect drug use or dealing in your neighbourhood)
– Call the local police on 101
– For Tube and rail, you can also text what happened, where and when, to 61016
– Go to the nearest police station to report it
– Report online
Victim Support
If you’ve been the victim of a crime, victim support can offer free help and support.
– East London Victim Assessment and Referral Service: 0808 168 9291 (then dial 2) 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.
– East London Local Victim Care Team 0203 910 9040
– Alternatively, you can contact them via live chat – normal operating hours are from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
– For support outside of their open hours, call our Supportline for free on 08 08 16 89 111
Report Crime Anonymously
If you want to report a crime, but you do not want to be identified to the police, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Knife Crime
If you or someone you know is involved in a gang or carrying a weapon, you can get advice from the Metropolitan Police website here. They understand that you may not want to talk to a family member, teacher or the police so you can speak anonymously to crimestoppers or childline to get support too.