An Garda Síochána are responsible for enforcing laws in Ireland and keeping the community safe. Crimes should be reported to them. If you are unsure if what is happening (or what has happened to you in the past) is a crime, you can contact the Gardaí to discuss your situation and get advice.
If you are in immediate danger or there is an emergency, you should dial the Garda emergency number at 999 or 112.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, you can report a crime by SMS text message on 112. However, you must first register your phone number on the 112 SMS service and it must only be contacted in the event of an emergency.
For non-urgent matters, you can make a report to your local Garda Station.
The contact details of stations countrywide are available at the Garda website.
You can walk into the station or ring your local station to make an appointment. It is a good idea to ring ahead if you want to discuss a particularly sensitive crime or otherwise need privacy when speaking to the Gardaí. If it would make you more comfortable, you can also request to speak to a male or female Garda. You also have the right to bring a support person with you.
If your circumstances leave you unable to go to a Garda Station, you can request that a Garda comes to your home to take a report. If you do not speak English fluently the Gardaí must provide free translation services to you.
If the crime took place in another County, another EU country or the UK, you can make an initial report to your local Garda Station and they will forward the case to the appropriate jurisdiction for investigation.
If you have concerns about reporting an incident and the consequences of doing so, you can contact us at freephone 116 006 to ask questions and explore your concerns.
If you are in immediate danger or there is an emergency, you should dial the Garda emergency number at 999 or 112.
LEARN MOREThe first Garda you speak to will take down your information (such as name, address, date of birth and phone number) and the basic details of what happened.
LEARN MOREWhen an investigation is completed, a decision is made whether to prosecute someone for the crime. The decision to prosecute is sometimes called “file charges”.
LEARN MOREThe Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decides whether or not to charge people for committing serious crimes and what the charges should be. The DPP is also responsible for prosecuting indictable offenses.
LEARN MOREWhen the Gardaí or the DPP decide to prosecute, the case then goes to court. Most of the time, the investigating Garda will be the person who informs you about court dates and other developments.
LEARN MOREWhen someone pleads guilty or is found guilty in court, all victims have a right to submit a victim impact statement (sometimes called a “personal statement”) before the judge decides on a sentence. Providing a victim impact statement is a right but not a requirement.
LEARN MOREWhen someone is convicted of a crime, they are sometimes sentenced to spend time in custody. Adults are placed in prison or the Central Mental Hospital. Juveniles are placed at the Oberstown Children Detention Campus.
LEARN MOREIs a term to describe a variety of practices that seek to provide opportunities for perpetrators to repair the harm they have done. The process generally requires the person to admit responsibility for the crime.
The Crime Victims Helpline is a listening and support service for victims of crime in Ireland. We provide time and space for victims to talk about their experiences. We also answer questions about the criminal justice system and help victims understand their rights.
If you or a friend or family member has been impacted by crime, there are a number of organization in Ireland who can help.