As an alternative to calling 101, it is now possible to report crime online by simply clicking “report a crime” on the Met website link https://www.met.police.uk/report/how-to-report-a-crime/ and follow the online steps, you’ll receive a reference number at the end of your report.
This is NOT for emergencies, which should be reported in the normal way by calling 999.
Online reporting is an easy alternative to calling the non-emergency number 101 and quicker than waiting in a telephone queue at busy times. Each report will be triaged by one of the experienced call handlers, the same ones who take the 999 and 101 calls in the control rooms, within 45 minutes of a report being submitted.
The police will respond within 48 hours. However, if the call handlers think that the crime needs a more urgent response they can divert the report to a police officer to attend.
Where needed, they will continue to visit victims of crime face-to-face but online reports for less serious offenses mean an officer does not need to visit an address to take details. This frees them up to attend the calls where they are needed most.
The online service can also be used to pass information to police via “tell us about”. The new-look Met website launched in March and by the end of September, 51,000 reports of crimes or incidents had been received online plus 31,000 reports via the road traffic incident reporting form. Two-thirds of road traffic collisions are now reported online, rather than forms having to be printed and returned by post or hand to a police station.
