A victim reports a crime to the SAPS

About reporting a crime

This service is provided to any person who is a victim of crime.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) will open a case docket and investigate the crime, effect the arrest of suspects and present the case to the courts for prosecution.

What you should do

• When a person (s) has been a victim of crime, they can contact the police by dialling 10111 or going to their nearest police station to report the crime.
• If a police officials attend the crime scene, they will obtain a statement from the complainant and witnesses if possible.
  • The police official:
    • will then go to the police station, register the case in the SAPS Crime Administration System (CAS) and give the complainant a reference which is called a CAS number
• must ensure that the CAS number is retained as a reference for future enquiries regarding the criminal case.

• If the complainant visits the local police station to report the crime:

• the complainant will be attended to in the Community Service Centre by a police official
• the police official will first interview and then take a statement from the complainant and register the reported crime in the CAS
• the complainant will be given a CAS number which must be used for all enquiries regarding the reported criminal case.

• The completed case docket is allocated to a police detective who will carry out the investigation. All enquiries can be directed to this detective.
• The detective in charge of the particular case will:
  • complete the investigation and present the docket to the relevant court for prosecution
• keep the complainant informed of any progress including when to attend the court hearings.

Timeframe

You will be assisted immediately.

How much does it cost

The service is free.

Forms to complete

The police officer taking your statement will fill in a form.

Who to contact