Report a crime

SINGLE EMERGENCY NUMBER 112

In cases where there is a threat to life, health, safety, the environment or property, call the single emergency number 112.

Calling 112

• Calls are free of charge and can be made from any landline or mobile phone.
• Sending a text message. Text messages are free of charge.
• Making an e-call or eCall.

What to say and how to say it when you call 112

• Speak as quickly and clearly as possible – what has happened? Where has it happened? Who is calling?
• Stay calm and answer any additional questions asked by the emergency services operator!
• Provide as much accurate information as possible about the people, vehicles, or circumstances involved in the incident.
• Do not end the call before the emergency services operator does!

More Home | 112

IMMEDIATE POLICE ASSISTANCE 112

When you need immediate police assistance – in the event of a serious threat to public order, a crime or a traffic accident – you should call the single emergency number 112.

If you are not in Latvia, call +371 67014002.

You can also report to the police by contacting your nearest police station.

In cases where police assistance is not urgently needed

If the crime has already been committed and the situation does not require an immediate response from the police, you can submit a written request to the police.

A written application requesting an investigation can be submitted

• in person at any police station
• electronically on the portal latvija.gov.lv, using e-address. The report will then be submitted using a qualified high-security authentication method
• electronically with an e-signature, sent to pasts@vp.gov.lv
• Smart-ID and signed with Dokobit, Lahdes
• by post to one of the police departments

The report must include:

• detailed information about the incident;
• how your rights have been violated;
• other information that may be useful in detecting the crime or offense;
• your personal data and address, if possible, contact telephone number.

More information How to report to the police | State Police

What are the telephone numbers of the State Police units and hotlines?

The telephone numbers of the State Police units available to you are:

• State Police information line – 67075333
• State Police information hotline for traffic issues – 67208108
• State Police Main Criminal Police Directorate Economic Crime Combating Directorate hotline – 67208663

State Police hotlines and e-mail:

• Single State Police hotline for reporting crimes and the people who committed them (this is an automated answering service, so you need to give specific info – place, time, what happened, and the people involved. If immediate assistance is required, call the emergency services on 112) – 67075444
• State Police Internal Control Bureau hotline for reporting information about possible illegal actions by State
• State Police employees – 67075456
• State Police e-mail for providing information about violations of the law and the persons who committed them – uzticiba@vp.gov.lv

State Police contact information:

Čiekurkalna 1.līnija 1, k- 4 , Riga, LV – 1026; telephone number – 67075333, e-mail address:

pasts@vp.gov.lv

Where can I find additional information about State Police stations in Riga?

Additional information can be found at https://www.vp.gov.lv/lv/filiales

Where can I find additional information about regions (State Police stations in other cities)?

Additional information can be found at https://www.vp.gov.lv/lv/valsts-policijas-apkalpojamas-teritorijas-

and-station-opening-hours

I am writing a statement to the police

How do I report if I am a victim?

If you are a victim, write a report in free form, including answers to all of the questions below – answer as detailed as possible and describe everything you can remember in detail.

• What happened?
• When did it happen?
• Where did it happen?
• Who did it?
• Who else knows about it?
• Who else might know about it?

How do I report if I am a witness?

If you are a witness, write a free-form statement, including answers to all of the questions listed below – answer as detailed as possible and describe everything you can remember in detail.

• When did you see it?
• What did you see?
• Where did you see it, where did it happen?
• Who did it?
• Did anyone else see it?

What must be included in a report to the police?

• The report must include information about the person submitting it – their first and last name and address. If necessary, other information that could help to contact the person submitting the report should also be included, such as a contact telephone number or email address.
• If necessary, attach copies of documents confirming the circumstances mentioned in the report to the report.
• The circumstances of the incident should be described in as much detail as possible.

A written report requesting an investigation can be submitted:

• in person at any police station
• electronically on the portal latvija.gov.lv, using e-address. In this case, the application will be submitted using a qualified high-security authentication tool
• electronically with eSignature, sent to pasts@vp.gov.lv
• Smart-ID and sign the application with Dokobit, Lahdes
• by post to any of the police departments

Which police authority should the application be addressed to?

Criminal investigations are conducted according to the location where the crime was committed, but if this cannot be determined, then according to the location where the crime was discovered or detected. You can find the areas served by the regional offices of the State Police on the State Police website. If you are unsure which police authority to address your report to, don’t worry – upon receiving your report, the police will determine the jurisdiction themselves and inform you where your report has been forwarded for consideration according to jurisdiction. At the police station, a report containing information about a criminal offense that has been committed or is being prepared is registered in the electronic information system and forwarded to the person responsible for its execution.

“Will someone call me?” and “Where should I go?”

You will receive an official notification about the further processing of your application. Police officers will contact you – either by phone, by sending a summons, or by email. The State Police will provide the person with information about the refusal to initiate criminal proceedings or about the initiation of criminal proceedings no later than one month after receiving the application. The State Police’s decision to initiate criminal proceedings cannot be appealed (Section 372(4) of the Criminal Procedure Law). When the State Police responds to a request to initiate criminal proceedings, the letter must also include information on where the State Police’s decision can be appealed. In order to appeal against the decision of the State Police to refuse to initiate criminal proceedings, the person must prepare an application and submit it to the relevant prosecutor’s office within 10 (ten) days of receiving the notification from the State Police (Section 373(5) of the Criminal Procedure Law).

EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE NUMBER 113

In situations where a person’s life is in danger and every minute counts in receiving assistance – in the event of a very serious injury or sudden illness and immediate medical assistance is required – call 113 or 112.

People with speech and hearing impairments can contact the NMPD in life-threatening situations by sending a text message (hyphens and soft signs should not be used) to the emergency number 112. When sending a text message, you must include the code 113, the address of the incident, the door code (if any), a brief description of what happened, and the name, surname, and age of the victim.

Example: 113 Jelgava district Kalnciems Jaunibas 2 – 15 code 783 difficulty breathing heart Marija Sokolova 57.

More When to call 113? | NMPD

OFFENSE AGAINST A CHILD

In accordance with the Child Protection Law, every person has a duty to immediately report to the police, the Child Protection Center, the Orphan’s Court, or social services about any crime against a child, as well as if they suspect that a child has objects, substances, or materials, or that there are circumstances that could threaten the life or health of the child or other persons.

(BTAL Article 73)

If you have reasonable concerns about the safety, health or life of your own or a relative’s or neighbor’s child, if there are reasonable suspicions that a child has suffered or is suffering from violence and immediate intervention is necessary, we urge you to contact the police immediately by calling 112.

• If you encounter materials containing violence or sexual abuse of children on the internet, please report it immediately to the Latvian Safer Internet Center https://drossinternets.lv/lv/zinot
• Anonymous report of a child rights violation to the Child Protection Center: https://www.bac.gov.lv/lv/anonima-zinosanas-veidlapa-par-iespejamajiem-bernu-tiesibu-parkapumiem

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO REPORT CRIMINAL OFFENSES?

When you report criminal offenses, you help to uncover them and punish the guilty parties.

If offenders do not receive the punishment they deserve, they may commit new crimes in the future. By reporting crimes, you are also protecting other people.

If a crime has been committed against another person and you have accidentally witnessed it, remember that the victim may not be able to help themselves, so help them by calling the police and, if necessary, emergency medical services. Remember – today you are helping others, but tomorrow you may be the one who needs help.

Failure to report a known serious or particularly serious crime that is being prepared or committed is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years, short-term imprisonment, probation, community service, or a fine.

(Section 315 of the Criminal Law)

CORRUPTION PREVENTION AND COMBATING BUREAU

By calling the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau’s hotline 80002070, you can provide information about corrupt criminal offenses and conflicts of interest committed or initiated by public officials, as well as violations of political party financing rules.

In accordance with the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau Law, the KNAB’s competence includes issues related to the prevention and combating of corruption, i.e., if bribery has taken place or public officials have performed other actions aimed at obtain undue benefits for themselves or other persons by using their official position, powers or exceeding them, as well as control of the financing rules of political organizations (parties) and prevention of conflicts of interest in the activities of public officials.

Information about the aforementioned activities can be submitted to the reporting center:

• in person on working days from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (in Riga, Alberta 13),
• by calling the hotline 8000 20 70,
• by fax 67 33 11 50,
• by post (Alberta 13, Riga, LV-1010),
• by e-mail (knab@knab.gov.lv).

(Section 387 of the Criminal Procedure Law)

More Education | Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau

INTERNAL SECURITY BUREAU

If you have encountered criminal offences committed by employees and officials of institutions subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior (except for the State Security Service) or the Prison Administration, you can submit an application (complaint) to the Internal Security Office.

The Internal Security Office will also examine applications (complaints) regarding criminal offences involving violence committed by Port Police and Municipal Police employees in the performance of their duties.

If you have information that may be useful to the Internal Security Office, please contact us at any time of the day by calling the confidential hotline 67209055 or by providing the information in writing (e-mail address: pasts@idb.gov.lv), signing the application with a secure electronic signature. We guarantee the confidentiality of the information provided and its source!

(Article 387 of the Criminal Procedure Law)

More Provision of information | Internal Security Office

STATE SECURITY SERVICE

The competence of the SSS, as defined in regulatory enactments, covers the protection of state security, state secrets and other interests of vital importance to the state, as well as the investigation of criminal offences in the field of state security. Taking into account the functions of the VDD as defined in the legal framework, the VDD implements state policy in the field of state security.

The VDD investigates criminal offenses committed directly in the field of national security or in national security institutions, or other criminal offenses within its competence and in cases where the investigation has been ordered by the Prosecutor General.

The VDD is responsible for preventing threats to national security interests and the fundamental principles enshrined in the Constitution, and for mitigating potential risks before a criminal offense has been committed or initiated.

Potential threats to national security or criminal offenses related to public order and safety can be reported to the VDD by sending information to the e-mail address: info@vdd.gov.lv, as well as by calling the 24-hour contact number 67208964.

(Section 387 of the Criminal Procedure Law)

More Contact — State Security Service

STATE REVENUE SERVICE

Report violations in the field of taxation or customs, or dishonest conduct by SRS officials:

• by writing to the e-mail address parkapumi@vid.gov.lv or
• by calling the SRS anonymous 24-hour toll-free hotline 80009070.

When reporting violations, it is advisable to provide as detailed and accurate information as possible. For example, if you encounter envelope wages at your workplace, it is advisable to include in your report the name and address of the company, as well as the date and time when the wages are paid. You can also report if a point of sale has clearly refused to issue a receipt. If the receipt issued contains suspicious or incomplete information, it is advisable to send a photo of it along with a description of the situation. If you suspect smuggling of excise goods, it is advisable to describe the situation, indicating the place, time, and other useful information, such as the license plate numbers of the vehicles involved.

The SRS examines all complaints submitted by residents and evaluates them in conjunction with other information available to the service, including data on specific companies.

(Article 387 of the Criminal Procedure Law)

More Institution contacts | State Revenue Service

MILITARY POLICE

Authorized officials of the military police investigate criminal offenses in the military service, as well as criminal offenses committed in military units, at their locations or in facilities owned or held by the Ministry of Defense, as well as criminal offences committed by soldiers, reservists, civilian employees and officials working in military units and facilities owned or held by the Ministry of Defence in connection with the performance of their official (work) duties.

Disciplinary punishment shall be imposed on a soldier or national guard member no later than one month after the commander (superior) becomes aware of the violation, but if a service investigation is necessary, no later than one month after the approval of the service investigation report. The period during which a soldier or national guard member was temporarily unable to work, was on leave or on a business trip, or was otherwise justifiably absent shall not be included in the period of disciplinary punishment.

Information on persons not subject to the jurisdiction of the ministry (and therefore not subject to the procedures laid down in internal regulatory enactments) shall be received and examined in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Law on Submissions, the Law on Official Electronic Addresses, the Criminal Procedure Law, and other binding regulatory enactments.

In addition to the above, it is important to note that the established procedures also include, among other things, the possibility (right or obligation) for any person to directly address and submit unprocessed and unsystematized information related to the issues you have mentioned and other issues to the Ministry of Defense or specialized competent authorities (including the Military Police).

(Article 21 of the Military Disciplinary Law, Article 387 of the Criminal Procedure Law)

More Contacts | National Armed Forces

PRISON ADMINISTRATION

Officials authorized by the Prison Administration investigate criminal offenses committed by detainees or convicts.

(Article 387 of the Criminal Procedure Law)

More Institution contacts | Prison Administration website