File a criminal complaint

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 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, you will receive an email with a case number and contact information for 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.

any police station

Any person who has knowledge of a crime can file a complaint. You do not have to meet any specific requirements.

If applicable: supporting documents (purchase receipts, receipts or pictures)

none

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.

The deadline for filing a criminal complaint should also be observed if there is an application offence.

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.

§ Section 158 Code of Criminal Procedure (StPO) - criminal complaint, criminal complaint

• § 158 Strafprozessordnung (StPO)
• § 138 Strafgesetzbuch (StGB)
• § 158 Strafprozessordnung (StPO) – Strafanzeige, Strafantrag

inapplicable

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.

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.

23.03.2023

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.