File a criminal complaint

Procedure

A report can be made or given online, in writing, by phone or verbally.

If you want to submit the ad online:

• There are several steps to submitting an ad online.
• 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 recording process is accompanied by legal instructions (witness and defendant instructions as well as the requirement to file a criminal complaint and a notice of discontinuance).
• It is possible to submit documents such as purchase receipts, receipts and/or pictures such as screenshots, pictures 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 responsible police department will receive the report and check it. If you report a crime that was committed outside of 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.

If you want to file your report in person on site:

• You can file reports in person on site during the following opening hours at these locations:
  • 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.
  • Downtown Precinct (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 using the online appointment service

If you would like to place your ad by telephone:

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

Legal bases

• § 158 Strafprozeßordnung (StPO)

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.