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Being a victim or seeing a crime happen, can affect how you feel for a long time. It is normal to lose some trust or worry more about your safety.
Am I in trouble?
No. If you are talking us because something happened to you, or you saw something, you are not in trouble.
We just want to understand and help. And talking about what happened can feel like taking a heavy backpack off.
Understanding what happened
Its not always easy to know if something is a crime or not.
What is a crime?
When someone does something that is not allowed by the law where they live, we call it a crime. This could be something like taking something that does not belong to them, or hurting someone on purpose.
You do not need to understand all the rules a country might have. If something felt wrong, scary, or unfair, its important to tell someone you trust. They can then help you work out if what happened was a crime.
How do I know if I should report something?
Reporting a crime means telling the police about something that happened, so they can act on it. You can talk to the police if something happened that made you feel unsafe, scared, or hurt. You can also make a report if you saw something happen to someone else, or if an adult you trust says it’s important to tell the police about it.
You might feel scared of talking to the police. That’s okay. Lots of people do, especially if it is their first time, or if they have had bad experiences before.
But if you decide to talk to the police, officers will listen to what happened, talk to different people – and try to stop bad things from happening again.
How do I report something?
If something bad is happening to you or someone else right now, you should call 999.
If you want to report something that has already happened, you can call 101, or report it through Avon and Somerset Police’s website.
What will happen to me?
Not everyone experiences crime in the same way.
But there should be some simple steps that, if you choose to report what happened to you, should happen. It is important to remember that the police are there to help everyone, including children. Every crime that is reported to the police is taken seriously.
When you want to report a crime:
- You can report online, in person or by phone, or ask an adult you trust to do it for you
- The police officers or staff assigned to your report will try and find out as much information as possible
- If they need information from you, you will be able to take a trusted adult with you
- You can ask for breaks, or for things to be explained again. You can also ask not to talk about certain things, if you are uncomfortable
- The police will work out what to do next. This is their job – you do not have to fix the problem yourself
You will not:
- be in trouble
- have to talk to the person who did something wrong
- have to tell the police everything at once
- be forced to talk if you need a break
- be left alone
- get told off for being confused or unsure, or asked tricky questions on purpose
- have to fix the problem on your own
- be ignored
If there is enough information for the police to keep looking into the crime, they will try and build a case. An organisation called the Crown Prosecution Service (which you might hear called ‘the CPS’) will then make a decision on whether it can go to court. If it does, you may need to give evidence, which means going to the court and telling the people there what happened.
You can find information on your rights or going to court on our website. You can also find more information through the Young Victims’ Service website.
If you feel upset or worried at any point during this process, that is very normal. Our support services are people you can talk to about your feelings and who will help you feel safer again.
Who can help me feel better?
Your feelings matter. Talking about them to adults help us to keep you safe.
After something scary or upsetting happens, there are people who can help you. We call these Victim and Witness care services. They will help you out more about support services near you.
Are Victim and Witness care services part of the police?
They are not the police – they are separate organisations. Their job is to support you and help you find what you need to feel better are a crime happens.
These services might do things like:
- hold in-person or online sessions where you can talk to professionals or other young people who have been affected by crime
- play games, do arts and crafts or story telling to help you feel more confident
- help you explore your feelings about what happened, and understand why you feel that way in a safe space
- give you clear information to help you with things you might have to do relating to the crime you experienced, such as going to court
All of these people, and others like NHS workers or school counsellors, are here to support you, listen to you, and help you develop skills and plans so that the impact of crime feels less heavy.
What can I do?
Other than talking to support services and the police, there are some things you can do that might help you feel calmer. These could include:
- creating something, like a drawing or model
- playing, with other people or on your own
- spending time with pets
- reading
- quiet time
- talking with someone you trust
All of these things can help your brain, and you, feel safer.
Can I ask questions?
Yes, you can ask as many questions as you like. Whether you want to ask your trusted adult, support workers, or police officers something, it will always be okay to ask something if you would like to understand it better. For example, you could ask “what is going to happen today?”, “can you explain that again?” or “I’d like to know more about what this will mean for me”.
The most important thing to do is remember you are not to blame.
With time, support and safe people around you, you will feel safe and confident again.
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