Published on: October 13, 2024 | By: @rprasanth_kumar
Option A: Police complaint In-Person
Where?: At a police station or gendarmerie of your choice.
What to bring?: Necessary documents (medical certificate, screenshots, photos, etc.).
What to keep?:
- Receipt: Proof of filing the complaint.
- Police report: At the end of your police or gendarmerie hearing, you will receive a receipt and a copy of your complaint if you request it.
Important Note:
- You can submit a pre-complaint online at Pre-plainte-en-ligne.gouv.fr if the perpetrator is unknown, and the crime involves property damage (theft, vandalism, fraud) or discrimination (discrimination, defamation, insult, incitement to hate).
- But, you must visit at a police station or gendarmerie brigade of your choice and then sign on your complaint. The police or gendarmes will have the elements of your complaint when you arrive.
- Police or gendarmerie services are obliged to register your complaint if you are the victim of an offence.
- You can file a complaint against a physical person who is an individual or a moral person (a company, an association, etc.).
- If you do not know the perpetrator or are unsure of his identity, you can still file a complaint. In this case, your complaint must be filed against X.
Option B: Online Police complaint
Where?: You can file a complaint online on THESEE via FranceConnect only in the following cases:
- You are a victim of ransomware.
- Your email has been hacked and your identity has been usurped to connect with your contacts.
- You are a victim of phishing.
- You have purchased on a fake commercial site.
- You bought from a fake seller on a classified ad site.
- You are a victim of blackmail.
- You are a victim of blackmail or threats during a romantic or friendly relationship on the internet.
Important Note:
- The use of the THESEE online service is recommended but not mandatory. So, the police or gendarmerie cannot insist you to use this tool.
- The online complaint submitted on THESEE is then transmitted to the national police.
Option C: Police complaint by Post
Where?: Send to the public prosecutor at the judicial court where the incident took place or where the suspect resides.
What to include?:
- Description of the facts: A template letter is available at Service-public.fr.
- Supporting documents: Attach medical certificates, screenshots, photos, etc.
Important Note: For credit card fraud or online scams, use the online services Perceval and Thesee.
Deadlines for Complaint Submission
You must file a complaint before the limitation period (délai de prescription) expires. The limitation period starts in principle from the day on which the offence was committed.
The limitation periods are as follows:
- 1 year for offences (contraventions) (abnormal disturbance of neighborhood, injuries without total incapacitation to work, etc.).
- 6 years for offences (délits) prohibited by law and punished with a fine and/or imprisonment of less than 10 years (theft, battery, fraud, etc.).
- 20 years for the most serious crimes (murder, rape, armed robbery, etc.).
Important Note:
- For certain specific offences, these time limits may be reduced or extended. For example, the limitation period for injury is 3 months while the limitation period for terrorism is 30 years.
- For a crime against a minor, a new time period begins from the majority of the victim. For example, a child victim of rape can file a complaint until he or she reaches age 48, 30 years after he or she becomes an adult (a specific time limit of 30 years begins at the age of majority).
Find a Police Station
You can find the nearest Police Station in France, using the online directory available at locate-police-station. Enter your postal code to see a list of local police stations.
Anonymous Chat with Police
You can also chat anonymously with a police officer at masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in 130 languages.
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