File a criminal complaint

A report can be made or submitted online, in writing, by telephone or verbally.

If you wish to submit the advertisement online:

• The online submission of an advertisement takes place in several steps.
• You can file a criminal complaint via the Internet portal. This can involve various offenses.
• You access the Internet portal via a central URL. The federal state responsible for processing is selected via the location of the incident. After selecting the appropriate offense-oriented form for filing a report, you can provide basic information about yourself (e.g. personal details, cell phone number, email address). You can then enter data on the crime scene, the time of the crime, the perpetrator and the event itself. The recording is accompanied by legal instructions (witness and accused person instructions as well as the requirement to file a criminal complaint and the notice of discontinuation).
• It is possible to submit documents such as proof of purchase, receipts and/or images such as screenshots, images of damage or stolen items with the report.
• Once the report has been submitted and accepted, you will receive an e-mail with a case number and the contact details of the Bremen police.
• The relevant police department will accept the report and check it. If you report a criminal offense that was committed outside Germany or in another federal state, the prosecuting authority will forward the report to the competent authority.
• Only if there are no grounds for investigation will the investigation be closed by the public prosecutor's office. The chances of success vary depending on the type of offense. Basically, the more information you provide, the higher the chances of the police finding the perpetrator.
• Anyone who knowingly and falsely suspects a person is committing a criminal offense. The law provides for a fine or a prison sentence of up to five years.

If you wish to make your report in person on site:

• You can report a crime in person at the following locations during the following opening hours:
  • Vegesack police station
    Kirchheide 51
    28757 Bremen
    Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    Wednesday and Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Bremen Police Headquarters
    In der Vahr 76
    28329 Bremen
    Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • City center police station (next to the main train station)
    Beim Handelsmuseum 1
    28195 Bremen
    Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• To avoid waiting times, we recommend that you make an appointment online in advance via the online appointment system

If you wish to place your advertisement by telephone:

• You can reach the telephone ad intake service on 0421 362-12700.
  
  • Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More information

• If you file a criminal complaint, you are basically a witness in the criminal proceedings. It may be necessary to summon you to the police station responsible for this as part of the further processing of your complaint, 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.
• 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.

• Proof of identification (photo ID: identity card, passport, etc.)
  

  Proof of identity is mandatory for filing a criminal complaint.

  By e.g.: Identity card, passport, other form of photo ID with address, etc.

• Invoices, proof of ownership for stolen items, equipment or serial number.
  
  • Invoices
  • Proof of ownership
  • Equipment numbers
  • Serial numbers
• Filled out criminal complaint
  

  Application available for download under "Forms".

• File a criminal complaint
  If you have become aware of a crime, whether you yourself have been harmed or have witnessed a crime, you can file a report with the police online. In doing so, you inform the law enforcement authorities (police and public prosecutor's office) about the event and the course of events.
  An Internet-capable terminal with current and common browser software is required.
  A file upload is possible in the formats PDF, JPG, JPEG and PNG.

• Criminal complaint (pdf, 466.2 KB)
  Please fill out the form (personal data, signature, data of suspect) and bring it with you to the advertisement.

gebührenfrei

What deadlines must be paid 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.

How long does it take to process

After receipt of the online notification, you will receive an email confirmation with a process number. The processing time depends on various factors. It is not possible to set a time limit.

• § 158 Strafprozeßordnung (StPO)

• Internetwachen der Bundesländer/ des BKA