Service Finder
File a criminal complaint
Service Description
You can file a criminal complaint whether you are injured, can witness a crime, or are an uninvolved party. Fast processing is encouraged by selecting the state in which the event occurred. You can file a report informally, by phone, online and at the police station, either anonymously or by providing your contact information. The online report is to be considered an additional offer.
The criminal complaint focuses on the notification of a criminal offense. A distinction is made between different groups of offenses.
Please note that criminal offenses from the following offense groups can be reported online: Theft/Property Crime, Fraud, Property Damage, and Hate and Incitement on the Internet. Other offenses can be reported via the "other criminal complaint" category. To promote the fastest possible processing, please select an appropriate offense.
When you file a criminal complaint, you are a witness in the criminal proceedings. Regardless of the report you file online, it may be necessary to summon you to the police station responsible for this as part of the further processing of the report, for example, in order to be able to conduct a witness interview with you in person.
Process flow
An ad can be made or submitted online, in writing, by phone, or verbally.
If you want to submit the ad online:
Filing a criminal complaint online involves several steps.
You can file a criminal complaint via the Internet portal. This can involve various offenses.
You call up the Internet portal via a central URL. The selection of the federal state responsible for processing is made via the incident location. After selecting the appropriate offense-oriented form for filing a report, you can provide basic information about yourself (e.g., personal data, cell phone number, e-mail address). You can then enter data on the crime scene, the time of the crime, the perpetrator and the event itself. The entry will be accompanied by legal instructions (witness or accused instruction as well as criminal complaint requirement and discontinuation notice).
Once the report has been filed, you will receive an e-mail with a case number and the contact details of the office handling the case.
The relevant police department will receive the report and examine it. If you file a report of a crime that was committed outside Germany or in another federal state, the law enforcement agency will forward the report to the competent authority.
Only if there are no investigative leads whatsoever will the public prosecutor's office discontinue the preliminary proceedings. The chances of success differ depending on the type of crime. Basically, the more information you provide, the higher the chances that the police will find the perpetrator.
Anyone who knowingly and falsely suspects a person commits a criminal offense. The law provides for a fine or imprisonment of up to five years for this.
Who should I contact?
To the online guard of the Thuringian police force
Competent authority
Each police department
Requirements
Any person who has knowledge of a crime can file a complaint. You do not have to meet any specific requirements.
Which documents are required?
If applicable: supporting documents (purchase receipts, receipts or pictures)
What are the fees?
none
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
There is no time limit to be observed. However, you should observe the respective statute of limitations, because criminal offenses usually become time-barred after a certain period of time.
Processing duration
After receipt of the online advertisement, you will receive an e-mail confirmation with a transaction number. The processing time depends on various factors. A time limit is not possible.
Applications / forms
inapplicable
What else should I know?
If you file a complaint, you are generally a witness in the criminal proceedings. It may be necessary to summon you to the police station responsible for this in the course of the further processing of your report, for example, in order to be able to conduct a witness interview with you personally.
Anyone who has knowledge of a criminal act but does not report it may be liable to prosecution. No special formal requirements apply. Caution is advised if the crime is suspected. Defamation and false suspicion are punishable by law; in this case, the person who makes the report must expect legal action against him or herself. In the case of crimes such as murder, robbery, war crimes and high treason, there is a duty to report.
In principle, a criminal complaint cannot be withdrawn. You should therefore think carefully about whether you want to file a criminal complaint. According to the principle of legality, the authorities are then obliged to investigate.
Author
State Chancellery of the Saarland
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
Technically approved by
Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Affairs
Professionally released on
02.02.2023
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)
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