Reporting a Crime

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Reporting a Crime

Although serious crime is rare in our area, it is important that you should know how to report crime to us. This will aid us in catching the criminal.

If you suffer, or witness, a crime

• Report the crime to us promptly
• Give accurate information – time, descriptions of persons or vehicles, names of possible witnesses etc.
• Tell us if you are concerned for your own, or your families safety
• Tell us if you have suffered any injuries
• Let us know if you want to be kept informed about the investigation

 If you remember more details later on, or discover further losses in the case of theft, please tell us.

What happens next

If our enquiries are successful, and there is sufficient evidence, we will send a report to the Procurator Fiscal, who is the public official for prosecutions in Scotland. He will decide whether there is to be a prosecution after looking at the evidence.

An accused person may plead “guilty”, in which case you will not be needed as a witness, or “not guilty”, in which case there will be a trial and you may be called as a witness.

If the crime was committed by a person under 16 years of age, then the Children’s Reporter will decide if there is to be any further action. He may refer the child to a Children’s Hearing. Victims and witnesses do not attend these hearings.

After an accused person has been charged, they may be kept in custody. If that happens, they can ask the court to release them on bail. The Procurator Fiscal can object to the granting of bail. If bail is refused, the accused is remanded in custody until the trial. If bail is granted, they are released, subject to several conditions. These always include conditions that the accused must not interfere with victims or witnesses, or commit further offences. The court may punish the accused if bail conditions are broken.

Going to Court

If you are required as a witness, the Procurator Fiscal will send you a citation, which is a legal document that tells you where and when to attend the court. With the citation you will also be sent a leaflet “Being a witness”, which gives information about what to expect at court.

Minor offences are dealt with by the District Court in Kingussie, while more serious offences are dealt with by the Sheriff Court at Inverness.

Victim Support

After a crime, its normal to feel angry, shocked, distressed, frightened or confused. Victim Support Highland is an independent voluntary organisation whose volunteers are specially trained to help you through this experience.Thay can provide free and confidential support, practical help and information.

Unless you tell the officer that you do not want the services of Victim Support, the Police will inform them and they will contact you.

Victim Support can also help you if you haven’t reported the crime.

Contact them on 0845 226 5014

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