REPORTING CRIME
Why report crime?
Reporting crime allows problems in the local community to be dealt with and helps make areas safer. If the police have details of a crime, they can look for patterns with other crimes and allocate the resources necessary to prevent new crimes happening.
How to report crime: students
Leeds students are encouraged to report any crime they have been a victim of whilst studying in Leeds to their university's Security Services.
Leeds University
- Emergency contact number: 0113 343 2222
- Non-emergency numbers: 0113 343 5494 or 0113 343 5495
Leeds Metropolitan University
How to report crime: general
Call 999
Use this service to contact the police in emergency situations: if the crime is happening now or if anyone is in immediate danger. The 999 system handles calls for the fire brigade and ambulance service as well as the police so try to be clear about which service you need. Be prepared to give a description of exactly what has happened. The police may want to collect evidence to help with the investigation. This may include fingerprints, photographs or clothing that may contain evidence.
Non-Emergency Crimes. Call 0845 6060 606
If you want to contact the police for any other reason, e.g. to report a crime which has already happened, or if you have lost or found anything, go to your nearest police station or call the non-emergency number. By not using 999 for non-urgent calls, you're making sure people in genuine emergency situations are able to contact the police quickly and more efficiently. Non-emergency incidents include stolen property, vandalism, graffiti, abandoned cars and other anti-social behaviour.
TEXT a Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT)
Text 0795 0080 240 for the North West Leeds Division, using the most appropriate start word from the list below, to ensure the most efficient response. Please note that there is a standard network rate charge for each text.
| NPT |
Text Number |
Start Word |
| North West Outer |
0795 0080 240 |
NWO |
| North West Airport |
0795 0080 240 |
AIRPORT |
| North West Inner |
0795 0080 240 |
NWI |
| North West Inner Hyde Park |
0795 0080 240 |
HYDEPARK |
| Student Liaison Officer |
0795 0080 240 |
SLO |
| West Outer |
0795 0080 240 |
NPTWO |
| West Inner |
0795 0080 240 |
NPTW |
The Investigation
You will be given a crime reference number which can be referred to if you want to contact the police about the same incident in the future, or when making an insurance claim. A statement may be required in order to support and clarify what has happened. After writing the statement, the police officer will read it back to you and ask for a signature affirming the statement’s accuracy and completeness. The police may want to collect some evidence to help with their investigation; this may include fingerprints, photographs or some of your clothing. They understand that this may be a distressing experience so they'll be as sensitive as possible.
Support for Students
Individuals may be nervous for a variety of reasons to report a crime or to provide a statement to the Police. If it might help to receive support to get you through the process then please contact your students' union or your institutions security service. For a list of further contacts, see the LINKS section.
Reporting Hate Crime
Students are, in general, a very open-minded group of people who are willing to accept new ideas and new ways of life; that’s because universities are one big mixing bowl of cultures and individuals. Unfortunately, not everybody at university or from wider communities is so accepting. Hate Crime reporting is here to make sure abuse and intolerances don't go unnoticed.
What is a hate incident?
The definition for a hate incident is: any incident which is understood to be a hate incident by the victim or any other person based on:
- race
- age
- national or ethnic origin
- religious belief
- philosophical belief
- sexual orientation
- gender identity
- disability
Reporting hate incidents
The scheme, Hate Incident Reporting Centres, has been brought together by West Yorkshire Police, Stop Hate UK and Leeds City Council. It offers anybody who has experienced or witnessed any type of hate incident the facility to report it in an alternative location other than a police station.
Where are the Hate Incident Reporting Centres?
The centres are in a number of different locations around Leeds and are identified by the hate incident logo. Some are in schools, neighbourhood housing offices, one-stop centres, and a range of community projects. Leeds University Union Student Advice Centre and the University of Leeds International Student Office are hate incident reporting centres. All information you give at a reporting centre is confidential and anonymous if preferred. Information doesn’t have to be shared, you can choose what information to give and who gets the information.
Contact
Free phone tel: 0800 1381 625. For all types of hate incident, 24 hours a day.
Web: www.stophateuk.org