Reporting Matters – Help Us Help You

Staffordshire Police are encouraging residents to report incidents directly to us through the appropriate channels so that concerns can be properly assessed, recorded and dealt with.

We understand that many community concerns are shared on social media or discussed with friends, neighbours and local groups. While these conversations can help raise awareness, they do not always come to the attention of the police or other agencies responsible for taking action. If an incident is not reported directly, there may be no official record of what has happened and opportunities to identify patterns, allocate resources or support victims could be missed.

Every report received helps build a clearer picture of what is happening within our communities. Individual incidents may appear isolated, but when combined with other reports they can highlight emerging issues, identify repeat offenders and assist in targeting police patrols and preventative work.

Whether you have been a victim of crime, witnessed suspicious behaviour or have concerns about activity in your area, reporting matters. The information you provide could be the missing piece that helps prevent further offences or safeguard vulnerable people.

When Should You Contact Staffordshire Police?

Call 999 if:

Examples include burglary in progress, assault, robbery, dangerous driving, serious concerns for welfare, or incidents involving weapons.

Call 101 or Report Online if:

Examples include criminal damage, theft, nuisance vehicles, harassment, neighbour disputes involving criminal offences, fraud reports, or ongoing anti-social behaviour.

You can also report non-emergency matters through the Staffordshire Police website at a time convenient to you.

Knowing Which Agency to Contact

Not every issue falls within the responsibility of the police. Contacting the correct organisation can often result in a faster and more effective resolution.

Contact Your Local Council For:

Contact the Highways Authority For:

Contact Trading Standards For:

Contact Your Utility Provider For:

Contact Action Fraud For:

Contact Housing Associations or Landlords For:

Why Reporting is Important

Many residents assume someone else has already reported an issue. Unfortunately, this can mean that incidents go unreported and agencies remain unaware of problems affecting the community.

By reporting concerns directly:

✅ Police and partner agencies can identify crime trends.

✅ Vulnerable people can be safeguarded sooner.

✅ Resources can be deployed where they are most needed.

✅ Repeat offenders can be identified and disrupted.

✅ Communities receive a more effective response to local concerns.

No piece of information is too small. What may seem insignificant individually could be vital when combined with information received from other members of the public.

Remember

If it's happening now and someone is in danger, call 999.

If it's not an emergency, report it via 101 or the Staffordshire Police website.

Working together and ensuring incidents are reported to the right organisation helps keep our communities safe and enables agencies to take effective action where it is needed most