Reporting abuse

If you’ve experienced or witnessed abuse, you have the right to report it. Whether or not to report is your choice.

You can report abuse to the police, but that’s not your only option. There are other organisations that can listen, take your experiences seriously and help you get support.

It’s normal to feel unsure about reporting or have questions about what it might mean.

Even if you’re not ready to report right now, knowing where you can go and what your options are can help you feel more in control.

Reporting to the police

  • You can report abusive behaviour to the police by calling 101 or making an online report.
  • You can also find details of your local police force if you want to report it to them in person.  
  • If you think someone’s life is in immediate danger, call 999. If it’s unsafe to speak, you can then press 55 and you’ll be transferred to a police call handler trained to deal with ‘silent calls’.

If you’ve been the victim of abuse, it’s likely that the police will arrange for someone to talk to you in a safe and private way. Their first priority will be to check you’re OK and find out if you need any emergency medical assistance. If you’re comfortable talking about what happened, the officer will normally have four main questions for you.

  • Who did this?  
  • What happened?  
  • Where did it happen?
  • When did it happen?  

The police will understand you may not be able to answer all of these questions.  

Reporting to the police

Other ways to report abuse

Reporting to the police isn’t your only option. Depending on where and when the abuse has happened, there are other people and organisations who can help. 

Other reporting options.

Abuse in a public place

  • If you’re on public transport, you can tell the driver or guard. If you’re travelling by train, you can also report it to the British Transport Police by texting 61016, report it on their Railway Guardian app or report it online.
  • If you’re somewhere like a bar or club, you can report it to someone on duty, whether that’s the bar staff, security staff or a manager. 

Abuse at work or school

  • If you experience or witness abuse at work, report it to your HR department or speak to your line manager.
  • If it happens at school or in another education setting, you can report it to a teacher or member of staff. 

Online abuse

  • If you see inappropriate content online, you can contact the service provider or use the report button on social media feeds.
  • If someone has shared intimate images of you, real or AI-generated, without your consent, there is support available:  
    • If you are over 18, you can contact the Revenge Porn Helpline for assistance in getting that content removed.  
    • If you are under 18, you can contact Report Remove who can help you with getting intimate images taken down.
  • If you see any sexual or intimate images of anyone under 18, you can report it to the Internet Watch Foundation. 

Domestic Abuse

Sexual violence and abuse

  • If you’ve experienced sexual violence or abuse, or you’re worried about someone who might be, you can get free, confidential support and advice 24 hours a day.  
  • You can also contact the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line for confidential advice and support. 

Report stalking

  • If you’ve experienced stalking, or you’re worried about someone who might be, you can get free, confidential support and advice 24 hours a day.
  • You can also contact the National Stalking Helpline for confidential advice and support. 

Reporting abuse anonymously

  • If you want report abuse anonymously, you can contact Crimestoppers. They’ll pass on the details to the police without revealing your identity. 

Common questions about reporting abuse

It’s normal to have questions or worries about reporting abuse, especially if you’ve never done it before. Here are some of the most common questions people ask. 

  • Yes. You can make an online report to your local police force. You can also contact services like Report Harmful Content or Revenge Porn Helpline where you can report things like online harassment or intimate image abuse.

  • Yes. If you’re worried someone you know is being abused, you can report it to the police or talk to a support organisation first for advice on how to help safely.

  • If something doesn’t feel right, it’s OK to talk to someone about it. Or if you’re unsure whether it’s abuse, the What is abuse? page has examples that might help you recognise certain behaviours.

  • The police and other services are trained to listen and take your concerns seriously, even if you don’t have messages, photos or witnesses. If you do have evidence, keep it safe – but don’t let what you think is a lack of proof stop you from getting help.

  • It’s completely understandable to feel that way, but you have the right to be taken seriously. The police and support organisations are trained to listen and help you get the right support. 

Getting support

If you don’t feel ready or don’t want to make a report but still want to talk to someone or get advice about what’s happened, support is available from a range of organisations. 

Get the support you need