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Call the Police

Edited by VisiHow, Eng

5 Parts: How to Call the Police Information the Police Will Need from You What Happens After You Have Filed a Report? Sources Comments

At VisiHow, we hope you never find yourself in a bad situation; but if you do, we want to make sure you have all of the information you need to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. There are a number of reasons in which you may need police assistance, including both emergency and non-emergency situations. If you find yourself in a situation that requires police assistance, it's important that you know how to contact them as well as the information they will need from you.

Contents

1 How to Call the Police
2 Information the Police Will Need from You
3 What Happens After You Have Filed a Report?
4 Sources
5 Comments

How to Call the Police

In order to call the police, you need to know the correct number. The number you will use to call the police will depend on where you are located. In some areas, there may be an emergency line as well as a non-emergency line for the police department. If you are unsure of the police contact number in your country, make sure to check the map created by ChartsBin.

Information the Police Will Need from You

Regardless of whether you are calling for emergency or non-emergency assistance, the police will need to know your name and telephone number. Then, you will need to provide information about your current location as well as information about the place where the incident you are reporting has taken or has been taking place. You will be also asked to briefly describe the incident. If there are injuries or casualties, this information should be included, as police may also need to send an ambulance or firemen. You should not be afraid to call the police. If you see an incident and at the same time you feel that your life may be endangered, you may be able to report the crime anonymously to the police or to a network such as Crimestoppers. Keep in mind, however, that making an anonymous report to the police can limit their ability to act in some cases. Remember that your call can save someone's life! Also, remember not to hang up the phone until an officer arrives or until the operator ends the call.

What Happens After You Have Filed a Report?

If respondents are dispatched, try not to use the phone from which you called until they arrive, because the operator should be able to call you back for further information. Then, if it is possible, stay in the same place where the incident has occurred. If the report was non-anonymous, you will be the first point of contact when the police arrive. At this point, you can describe everything in detail: what you have seen and heard, how many offenders you've seen, etc. There may also be additional eyewitnesses willing to support you; so, don't hesitate to ask them for help! When the police arrive, all you have to do is to stay calm and answer all of the questions you are asked. You never know what information may be useful!

Never be indifferent to a wrong that you've witnessed. If you see an incident that might require police assistance, call the police. One call may turn out to be very beneficial. You should also remember that calling the police is not something you should be afraid of. At VisiHow, we hope that this article will turn out to be useful if ever needed!