Crimes >

• CRIMES
  • Reporting an offence »
    • Form for reporting an offence
    • Injured party »
      • Notifying injured parties
    • Suspects »
      • Suspects who are minors
      • Interviewing persons who are intoxicated or in a disturbed mental state
  • Pre-trial investigation of an offence »
    • Questioning the parties involved »
      • Rights of persons being interviewed
    • Offences subject to public prosecution and offences in which the prosecution rests with the injured party »
    • Duty to cooperate with a pre-trial investigation »
      • Duration of an interview
      • Examination record
      • Witnesses
    • Coercive measures »
      • Personal descriptions
    • Closing a pre-trial investigation
  • Compensation for crime damage
  • Victims of crime
  • Mediation
  • Simplified pre-trial investigation
  • Police investigation
  • Restraining order »
    • Who can apply for a restraining order?
    • How do you apply for a restraining order?
    • The contents of a restraining order
    • Duration of a restraining order
    • Handling of a restraining order in the District Court
    • Stricter prerequisites of an inside-the-family restraining order
    • Breach of the restraining order
    • Advice and help in restraining order matters
  • Checking your personal data »
    • Restrictions on the right of access
    • Forms
    • The Europol Computer System
    • The Schengen Information System
    • Criminal records
  • Net tip

Criminal investigation

Anyone can report an offence to the police, who in turn have a duty to accept such a report. A report of an offence can be completed in person at the nearest police station, by phone, fax or over the Internet, or by notifying a police patrol.

Pre-trial investigation of an offence is normally the responsibility of the local police within whose jurisdiction the reported offence took place. However, the offence can be reported at any police station, as indicated above. The police station receiving the report of the offence will then forward it as necessary.

The police will commence a pre-trial investigation if there is reason to suspect that a crime has been committed. Not all reports of offences lead to pre-trial investigation.

The police also have other investigation duties besides pre-trial investigations. These include establishing the cause of death, finding missing persons and cases concerning prohibition on engaging in business.

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