Abuse & The Law

The decision to report the assault to the police is entirely yours. If you’re unsure about what to do, we can discuss what reporting involves and explore your options with you. You can choose to report the incident immediately, at a later time, or not at all—it’s your choice. However, reporting the assault soon after it occurs may provide the police with a better chance to collect physical evidence, which could be harder to obtain if delayed.

Telling the police

If you choose to report the crime, a specially trained police officer will take basic detail from you. If the assault happened recently, the police will arrange an examination by specifically trained medical staff to collect evidence. The police will take further details from you only when you feel ready.

You will be told the name of the officer dealing with your case. The police will let you know if someone is caught and charged and whether or not they are released on bail. You should tell the police if you are worried that the attacker will harass or intimidate you.

Contacting Cumbria Police

In an emergency, contact the police on 999 or text 18001 101

For non-emergency support, you can contact the police by dialling 101

Find out more about police support available through Cumbria Constabulary’s website