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Report a crime

Find out who to contact to get immediate help in an emergency, file a police report, and report different types of crime.

What to do in an emergency

To report an emergency outside your area, you must contact the local law enforcement agency where the emergency is taking place. Search online for that local law enforcement agency’s website to find their 10-digit phone number.

How to file a police report or report crime anonymously

To file a police report, search online for the local law enforcement agency’s contact information where the crime occurred.

Most local law enforcement agencies accept anonymous tips or crime reports online or by phone. To learn more, contact your local police department.

How to report a crime

Crimes involving children.

Child abuse and neglect:

Call 911 in an emergency.
Contact your state child protective agency .
Call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).
Text 1-800-422-4453.
Report abuse through live chat.

Child pornography

File a report online at CyberTipline.org .
Call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

Kidnapping inside the U.S.

Call 911 in an emergency
Call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) and learn what to do if your child is missing .

International kidnapping

If your child is still in the U.S., call 911. And learn from the Department of State how to stop a child abduction in progress .
Your local law enforcement
The Department of State Office of Children’s Issues

Human trafficking

File a report online at CyberTipline.org .

Domestic abuse

Call 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233).
Text “START” to 88788.
Report abuse through a live chat on their website.

Cyber crime or illegal website activity

Report internet crime to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) .
Contact your local FBI field office .
Call 1-888-373-7888.
Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE).
Email [email protected] .
Chat live online through the Human Trafficking Hotline Web Chat .

Sexual assault

Connect with a counselor anonymously by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673).
Talk to an advocate, and find resources in your state by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233).
Call 1-866-331-9474.
Text LOVEIS to 22522.
Chat live online .

Restraining orders

To file for a restraining order against someone, you must contact your local court system. Learn more about restraining orders from the National Domestic Violence Hotline , and call them at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) to find resources near you.
Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
Contact the National Center for Victims of Crime’s VictimConnect Resource Center at 1-855-4-VICTIM (1-855-484-2846) to find resources and understand your rights.

Hate crimes

Submit a tip online to the FBI.
Call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

Bomb threat

Contact your building’s supervisor first.
If you cannot reach your building supervisor, call 911.
If someone makes the bomb threat by phone
If you discover a suspicious item that you think may be a bomb

Organized crime

Whistleblower protection.

If you have experienced retaliation for reporting workplace violations, learn how to file a whistleblower complaint. You can do so through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) :

By mail and email
In person at a local or regional OSHA office

Report international crimes

To report an international crime, contact your local law enforcement agency. They may ask Interpol to help.

Interpol is an intergovernmental agency that helps national police agencies work together to solve international crimes. However, Interpol does not accept crime reports directly from the public.

LAST UPDATED: February 13, 2024

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Perspective: Writing Clear, Effective Police Reports - No English Degree Required

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Writing Clear, Effective Police Reports: No English Degree Required

By Jean Reynolds, Ph.D.

A female officer is depicted typing on a dashboard-mounted laptop in her police vehicle.

Report writing continues to be a vital task for law enforcement. Police officers often have heard that the most powerful instrument they carry is a pen. 1 Unfortunately, writing reports sometimes intimidates recruits, instructors, administrators, and even seasoned officers.

Law enforcement reports become scrutinized more than most documents. 2 Fear of mistakes often triggers memories of school days spent diagramming sentences, memorizing parts of speech, and laboring over complex writing assignments.

As a result, recruits often dread report writing more than any other subject in their training. Experienced officers higher up in the career ladder say that they could do a better job teaching report writing or reviewing statements if they possessed a stronger background in English.

Individuals who share those feelings may be surprised to hear that they know more about English than they think. They can find solutions for the writing problems they encounter. With extensive experience in all types of police writing, the author has learned that almost anyone who meets law enforcement entrance requirements can learn to write effective reports without a lengthy detour into academic English.

Fundamental Principles

Instructors and administrators can apply some basic principles when working with officers who need to build confidence and improve writing skills.

1) Formal grammar is not the problem or the solution . People associate writing with workbooks and grammar tests from their youth. So, it seems natural to think that diagramming sentences, identifying parts of speech, and conducting similar tasks will sharpen writing skills. However, the facts indicate that most issues with police reports result from usage and diction errors, which are easier to work with than the arcane terminology of grammar theory.

2) People know more than they think they do . Effective writing involves organizing and expressing facts and ideas—skills people develop from the time they learn to speak. Officers’ brains already contain the hardware necessary for police writing. This also holds true for writers whose first language is not English. Often, they just need to partner with someone who speaks well to ensure their diction and usage meet the required standards.

Dr. Reynolds, an author and retired professor, manages a website on writing police reports.

3) Simplicity proves to be the key to success . Officers encounter trouble when they try to make reports fancy. Intricate writing works for an English class; however, it wastes time and enables errors when writing reports. Police officers must remember that they write to inform, not to impress. 3

4) Accountability matters . Usually, the people in charge determine the level of writing in classrooms and agencies. If they demand quality, the people they are teaching or supervising will slow down, proofread, seek assistance, and submit superior reports. But if those in charge tolerate mistakes and mediocrity, individuals will produce poorly written reports.

5) Partnerships build brainpower, and appropriate writing habits follow . In a typical classroom, the teacher serves as the only person critically reviewing and correcting students’ work. This results in individuals who never learn how to find and fix their mistakes. The solution can be found in individuals partnering with other recruits or officers to review work and recommend corrections. This may appear counterintuitive. Would an English teacher serve as a better resource? Surprisingly, the answer is no. Often, writers identify common errors when they slow down and look for them. Similarly, people’s minds work better when checking someone else’s work.

Most important, active learning builds intellect more effectively than if someone else does the work.

Practical Applications

The main problems of diction and usage appear in police writing, as well as in other career writing. Conversational English differs from professional text. Often, slang words and colloquialisms, such as has went, don’t have none, and me and my partner arrived , slip into reports and other documents. These classify as diction errors. Most punctuation mistakes and syntax problems fall into the category of usage.

Many high school graduates who watch TV and movies have years of exposure to suitable diction and correct usage. Often, the real obstacles appear to be haste and apathy—writers hurry, refrain from checking their work, or do not care about what they write.

Valuable Guidelines

The solution occurs when individuals slow down and double-check their statements. Partnerships and accountability contribute to this accomplishment. Instructors and supervisors need to avoid grabbing a pen to correct mistakes themselves. Some useful guidelines can help any writer.

Begin sentences with a noun—person, place, or thing. Writing simple, straightforward sentences often eliminates fragments, run-on sentences, dangling modifiers, and other syntax errors.
Do not tolerate “textspeak” (e.g., u instead of you , or omitted capital letters). Refrain from fixing those errors. Return the report to the writer for corrections.
Avoid unnecessary transitions, like upon hearing the gunshot or whereupon she ran out the door . Keep it simple.
Use everyday language, such as I, me, saw, heard, and house instead of this officer, ascertained, or residence .
Resist the temptation to flaunt your skills. Writing extinguish the illumination instead of turn out the light sounds pompous and does not impress anyone.
Remember that possessive pronouns— his, hers, ours, theirs, yours, and its —never use apostrophes. Avoid mistakes with it’s and its by thinking of the apostrophe as a small i (i.e., it i s = it’s = it is). Link its and his and remember to omit the apostrophe when using the possessive form (e.g., he doubled his speed or the car doubled its speed). Never put an apostrophe after the s in its .
Be careful with woman and women . Writers often use women to refer to a single female: I spoke to a women who witnessed the assault, instead of I spoke to a woman .
Use apostrophes only to show ownership ( Linda’s car) and omission of letters in contractions ( didn’t, couldn’t ). Avoid decorating plurals with apostrophes (e.g., I saw bruise’s on Tom’s left cheek).
Develop the habit of using resources—a dictionary, Internet search, or quick question for a fellow officer who writes well.
Remember that professionals never say, “I think I did this correctly.” They make sure they did. Suppose you heard your physician say, “I think I know how to do this procedure.” Would you stick around or find another doctor?

“...almost anyone who meets law enforcement entrance requirements can learn to write effective reports....”

Useful Opportunities

Picture an officer typing on a laptop in a patrol car late at night. It is easy to understand why people often describe writing as a solitary activity. However, from another perspective writing appears communal. People’s lives are filled with language activities, and the constant flow of words means that opportunities to sharpen writing skills exist everywhere.

Whether officers serve as cadets, instructors, supervisors, or seasoned officers, they already have encountered a wealth of language experiences. It is important to be generous with sharing expertise and seeking opportunities to sharpen skills and expand knowledge. This will benefit the individual’s reports, as well as the organization and fellow officers.

Dr. Reynolds may be contacted at [email protected].

1 William L. Harvey, “Leadership Quotes and Police Truisms,” Law Enforcement Technology , July 1, 2015, 44, accessed December 9, 2016, http://let.epubxp.com/i/536817-jul-2015/12 . 2 Rebecca Kanable, “Getting it Right: Convictions Require Good Report Writing,” Law Enforcement Technology , September 1, 2005, accessed December 9, 2016, https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-137631960.html . 3 Amaury Murgado, “How to Master Report Writing,” Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine , November 22, 2010, accessed December 9, 2016, http://www.policemag.com/channel/patrol/articles/2010/11/report-writing.aspx .

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Police Reports

IMPORTANT: Use this page to file a police report. You can request an incident report copy here. All other public records requests are made at the link below. Click here if you need to make a Public Records Request.

How to File
Request Report Copy
Reporting Outside SF
Supplemental Reports
False Reporting

How to File a Police Report

Make the right call!

Dial 9-1-1 only in an emergency

It is an emergency if: there is an immediate threat to you or others; the crime involves a weapon; the crime is in progress or you know the suspect’s location.

If it is not an emergency, you will get help most quickly by calling our non-emergency line, at 1-415-553-0123 for crimes that occurred in San Francisco.

NOTICE: Please see below a breakdown of what you CAN and CAN NOT file online. Any report filed online not meeting the below-listed requirements WILL BE REDIRECTED. Please read the information below carefully.

Types of Crime Reports That Can Be Filed Online:

Harassing phone calls.
Lost property.
Vandalism or graffiti.
Vehicle burglary: property stolen from a vehicle. This can also include vehicles that have been rummaged through, as there are many other indicators a vehicle has been burglarized.
Vehicle tampering, including vandalism.
Theft –unless it involves a residential or commercial burglary or the stolen property is a passport, firearm, license plate, car, or electric vehicle. Electric bikes, scooters, and Segway are allowed only when there is no serial number . In those cases, call our non-emergency number at 1-415-553-0123 .
Credit card fraud
Shoplifting

Types of Crime Reports That CAN NOT Be Filed Online:

Residential Burglaries (Theft from a Building)
Robbery Incidents
Traffic Collisions AND Hit & Run Traffic Collisions
Stolen Vehicles
Identity Theft / False Impersonation
Stolen License Plates
Lost / Stolen Foreign Passports
Stolen Electric Bicycles WITH Serial Numbers
Cases WITH Suspect Names
Cases WITH Video Evidence

For Crime Reports That CAN NOT Be Filed Online, Please Go To Your Nearest Police Station .

File a police report online:

If you have an email address you can file an online police report for many types of crime by clicking below on the language of your choice.

File a Police Report in English

Presentar un informe policial en español

Powered by CopLogic. Please turn off your pop-up blocking software before filing your report. Note that we cannot accept online reports involving known suspects, suspect descriptions or surveillance records.

No computer available to file online? Not a problem. Simply call 3-1-1 (outside of SF, call 1-415-701-2311 ). A representative is ready to assist 24 x 7 and can provide language assistance in over 175+ languages.

If you wish to report a crime that occurred in the City and County of San Francisco which is not included in the above listing, you can report:

In person with a police officer at your nearest police station .
Call Police Non-Emergency at 1-415-553-0123 and have a police officer come to your location.

Call to file a police report:

If you do not have an email address or your language is not included above, call 3-1-1 or 1-415-701-2311 .

Go to your nearest police station *:

*Please note: In an effort to avoid unnecessary in-person contact and help stem the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you first consider the options listed above.

Remember: Filing a false police report is a crime. See Section 148.5 of the California Penal Code .

Request a Police Incident Report Copy

Request and receive all types of San Francisco Police Incident Reports through an online portal. Report types include traffic collisions, domestic violence, and all other incidents of general crime. Using the portal is the most secure and convenient way to request and receive incident reports from the San Francisco Police Department. An account can be created within the Incident Report Request Portal to track the request(s) and receive reports and correspondences securely online.

Reporting Crimes Outside of City and County of San Francisco's Jurisdiction

The San Francisco Police Department does NOT handle crimes that occurred in property that is outside of the City and County of San Francisco's jurisdiction and those should be reported directly to the appropriate agency as listed below. If the crime is posing an immediate threat to you or others, call 9-1-1 immediately .

BART Property (stations and plazas) – Call BART police at 1-877-679-7000 or visit Bay Area Rapid Transit website .

City College – Call City College Police at 1-415-239-3200 or visit City College District Police Department website .

On the Freeway – Call California Highway Patrol (CHP) at 1-800-835-5247 or visit California Highway Patrol website .

Golden Gate Bridge (including Visitor's Center) – Call CHP at 1-800-835-5247 or visit California Highway Patrol website .

Presidio – Call US Park Police at 1-415-561-5505 or visit United States Park Police website .

San Francisco State University – Call SFSU Police at 1-415-338-7200 or visit SFSU University Police Department website .

UCSF Campuses – Call UCSF Police at 1-415-476-5455 or visit UCSF Police Department website .

USF Campus – Call USF Dept. of Public Safety at 1-415-422-4222 or visit USF Campus Safety website .

Adding a Supplemental Report

File a supplemental report if you want to add information to your original report or to a report that has previously been filed by an SFPD officer. To file a supplemental police report, click on the "File a Police Report" link above, select the appropriate incident type, follow the prompted questions, and select 'supplemental report' when prompted.

Use the supplemental report method to report:

Additional property losses from the same crime;
Additional details to describe stolen property, such as a serial number.

When you have finished entering your report, a temporary report will be emailed to you. This report will not be official until it is approved. Once that happens, we will email you an official copy.

Filing a False Police Report

California Penal Code Section 148.5 PC

We advise anyone who files a police report to consider the following information:

IT IS A CRIME TO FILE A FALSE POLICE REPORT, This includes:

MAKING A FALSE REPORT OF A CRIME - No crime occurred.
USING A FALSE NAME OR IDENTITY.
PROVIDING FALSE DETAILS OR INFORMATION ABOUT THE INCIDENT.
MAKING A FALSE REPORT OF THEFT OR DAMAGE.
KNOWINGLY MIS-STATING TRUE VALUE OF ITEMS STOLEN OR DAMAGED.

Penalties include jail and fines for each separate count of a false report.

USING A FALSE NAME OR USING SOMEONE ELSE'S IDENTITY: Knowingly giving a false name to police or using the identity of someone else on any police report, other official or financial report is a crime, a Felony under Penal Code Section 529 PC - Click here to read the section.

FALSE REPORTS FOR INSURANCE CLAIMS: If the police report is made or required for filing an insurance claim, knowingly providing false information, including a false report of a theft or loss, false report of damage or false value of insured property, it is considered insurance fraud. The false report will be prosecuted as Felony insurance fraud under Penal Code Section 550 - Click here to read the sections.

All reports received and processed using online reporting forms are read, screened and verified by a police officer to confirm information and reduce fraud. San Francisco Police Department prosecutes all false police reports, insurance fraud and cases of false or assumed identity. Using the Online Report system to file "hoax" or "joke" reports, is also a false report. We will file cases against offenders and our local District Attorney's office does prosecute these offenses.

Please read the following excerpt from the 2000 Edition of the California Penal Code. Use this link to read this and other Penal Code sections relating to offenses against public justice:

California Penal Code Sections 142 through 181 – from California Legislative Information website.
California 2000 Penal Code Online edition – from California Legislative Information website.

Penal Code Section 148.5 - Falsely report crime.

148.5. (a) Every person who reports to any peace officer listed in Section 830.1 or 830.2, or subdivision (a) of Section 830.33, district attorney, or deputy district attorney that a felony or misdemeanor has been committed, knowing the report to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) Every person who reports to any other peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, that a felony or misdemeanor has been committed, knowing the report to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor if (1) the false information is given while the peace officer is engaged in the performance of his or her duties as a peace officer and (2) the person providing the false information knows or should have known that the person receiving the information is a peace officer.

(c) Except as provided in subdivisions (a) and (b), every person who reports to any employee who is assigned to accept reports from citizens, either directly or by telephone, and who is employed by a state or local agency which is designated in Section 830.1, 830.2, subdivision (e) of Section 830.3, Section 830.31, 830.32, 830.33, 830.34, 830.35, 830.36, 830.37, or 830.4, that a felony or misdemeanor has been committed, knowing the report to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor if (1) the false information is given while the employee is engaged in the performance of his or her duties as an agency employee and (2) the person providing the false information knows or should have known that the person receiving the information is an agency employee engaged in the performance of the duties described in this subdivision.

(d) Every person who makes a report to a grand jury that a felony or misdemeanor has been committed, knowing the report to be false, is guilty of a misdemeanor. This subdivision shall not be construed as prohibiting or precluding a charge of perjury or contempt for any report made under oath in an investigation or proceeding before a grand jury.

(e) This section does not apply to reports made by persons who are required by statute to report known or suspected instances of child abuse, dependent adult abuse, or elder abuse.

San Francisco Police Department

File a police report

Should i call 9-1-1.

If you or someone else is in danger or a crime is happening now, call 9-1-1.

Call 9-1-1 if:

There is immediate danger to people or property
A crime is happening right now
The suspect is still on the scene

File a report

To file a report online, you must be over 17 years old and have a valid email address.
If you need a language other than English, click ENGLISH in the top right corner of the online reporting page. Select your preferred language from the list of languages. Please write your report in your preferred language.
Only certain offenses can be reported online. Carefully read the information in the online reporting system to make sure you can file a report online.
Assault (minor or no injury, excluding domestic violence)
Assault with Injury
Assault by Contact
Threats (excluding domestic violence)
Burglary that does not involve fire/arson
Theft (excluding prescriptions, firearms, explosives, vehicle license plates, and motor vehicles of any kind)
Lost or missing property (excluding narcotic prescription medication, vehicle license plates, and firearms)
Damaged property or Graffiti
Counterfeiting or Forgery
Identity theft
Illegal use of a credit or debit card
Minor, non-criminal child custody issues for documentation only
Trespassing (suspect no longer on scene)
Shoplifting reports
Hit & Run
Indecent Exposure
Wrecker Ordinance Violation
Bicycle Registration
Call Austin 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000
Interpreters are available for languages other than English.
You can only report by phone if you are under 17 years old, do not have a valid email address, or the offense cannot be reported online. Otherwise, you must file a report online.

How to Write a Police Report (Pro Examples & Templates)

A Police Report is written documentation of an event or crime that has been committed, which includes details about the crime and the criminal who did it.

The reports may be filed by police officers or citizens (such as for burglary), and they provide essential information to judges, juries, attorneys, and victims.

If you are a police officer, you will be writing many reports. A good report is essential to your job because it will explain the facts of a case in detail. Conversely, a poor or incomplete report can lead to accusations against you for neglecting vital information that may be pertinent to the case.

Therefore, the more thorough and accurate your report is, the better for you and your department. In this article, you will know how to write a police report, discuss the importance of good report writing, and provide examples that you can use to craft your report.

Free Templates

Free police report template for download

Importance of Police Report

It is generally written after all the information of a case has been gathered. It can be beneficial in court cases, where lawyers will often ask for your report. This is because it serves as documentation, telling the judge and jury what happened and what the people involved were like.

A good report can make the difference between a case being thrown out and one getting through. They are a significant part of the justice system, and as such, police officers must take special care to ensure their reports are detailed and informative. A detailed and good written report will make it easy to understand the case.

Did you know that the filing of the report is contingent on the outcome of your call to authorities? If no report is generated and you wish to file one later, you can utilize the non-emergency line. Consequently, if you ever require emergency help, remember to call 911.

How to Write a Perfect Police Report?

The content of the report should be organized in an outline format. The more thorough you are, the better.

Below is a detailed breakdown of how to correctly write the report:

The header of the report outlines the name and location of the agency, as well as its contact information. You should include your name as well as that of any other involved parties. It also includes information about the incident — usually either “theft” or “vandalism.” The date and time should be included too.

Date of the report : The report should be dated and show the exact time it was filed. This is important as it helps with accurate and effective record keeping.
Title: The title should state who the report is about. For example, if it’s a robbery report, you’ll want to use the word “robbery” in the title, same with an assault or burglary report. If multiple cases pertain to one person (domestic violence and assault), the title should include the person’s name.
Officer name: The officer’s name should be written at the top of the report to avoid confusing who wrote it. It will also help with record keeping.
Time: This will allow for accurate date stamping of the report.
Location of an incident: The report should also include the specific location of where the crime occurred. This will help with any investigations that may need to be carried out at that location. Make sure to include the specific address or intersection of the incident.

Introduction

The second section of the report is the “introduction.” This section should include the following:

Nature of the call or incident: The report should also state the call or incident. This could be something like “theft,” “assault,” or “burglary.” It is essential to be as detailed and accurate as possible when describing the nature of the call or incident in the report.
Why were you at the scene? This part is essential if there are ever any questions about why you happened to be at the scene of the crime. To clear this question, you must write how you arrived there.
Additional officers who were also there: If there was another officer on the scene and they witnessed what happened, you may want to include their name and their badge number so that if ever questioned, you can provide a second source or perspective of what occurred.

The body section is where you will write about the five W’s and 1H – who, what, where, when, why, and how.

Who: The first part of this section is everything that happened to or around the victim or witness. For example, if a robbery occurred at a convenience store, it’s important to include who was involved in the transaction. Next, make sure to list the names of any suspects or persons of interest involved in whatever happened.
What: After listing everyone involved in an incident, you must explain what happened in chronological order. For example, if someone is reporting a robbery, you’ll need to include who was involved and what happened.
Where: Explain where the incident took place in specific detail, including room numbers and landmarks if applicable. For example, the location of a reported robbery could include specifically which door or aisle of a store was involved.
When: The time the incident occurred must be included in this section, including specific relevant times. This is important as it will provide a date stamp if any discrepancies or questions surrounding when the incident occurred.
Why: This is where you will list what you believe happened and why it happened. This section may also include who was the perpetrator if known. For example, if someone reports that they were assaulted, you must explain why the situation happened. This section of the report may also include any motive or possible intent of the perpetrator if known.
How: This section should provide a step-by-step explanation of everything that happened. This will help to paint a clear picture of what transpired. In some cases, it might be helpful to diagram or map out the scene of the crime. Therefore, it is essential to be as detailed as possible when writing the “how” section of the report.

In this section, you’ll need to include your final action if any follow-up details are needed in the future. For example, suppose a victim or witness doesn’t have all their information when they leave from reporting an incident. In that case, you will want to let them know that they will be contacted for a follow-up report when necessary information has been acquired.

Also, if there is nothing else to add to the report, end by saying that there is nothing to report further: This line helps solidify that you have thoroughly investigated your call or the case and reported it to the best of your ability.

Before you write the report, make sure you have all the correct forms. Different police departments will have different forms, so you will need to know which ones are correct for your department. If you don’t, the report may contain incorrect information and be incomplete.

Police Report Template

Date of the report: __________

Officer’s badge number: __________

Name of suspect(s): __________

Date and Time of arrest: __________

Address where offense occurred: __________

Location of arrest (i.e., where arrested): __________

Nature of call or incident: __________

On __________ at approximately __________, I responded to a call about an individual who was making annoying calls. Upon arriving at the scene, I met with ________ and___________. ___________stated that ___________ had been calling _____________’s phone number leaving harassing messages for _____ to hear. It is believed that __________ used a different number to mask her own phone number and erase the caller ID.

___________ has filed harassment charges against _________ and ___ is currently in custody at ___________ pending a court date. There is nothing further to report.

Sample Police Report

Date of the report: 3/1/2019

Officer’s badge number: 88765

Name of the suspect(s): Millicent Miller

Date and time of arrest: 1 pm

Address where the offense occurred: 32 Pine

Street Location of arrest: 32 Pine Street

Nature of call or incident: Annoying phone calls

On March 1, 2019, at approximately 3:30 pm, I responded to a call about an individual who was making annoying phone calls. Upon arriving at the scene, I met with Millicent Miller and her son John who reported that Millicent’s neighbor called her cell phone. Additionally, Sarah’s neighbor stated that Millicent had been calling Sarah’s house using a different number and leaving harassing messages for herself to hear.

Sarah has filed harassment charges against Millicent. Millicent is currently in custody at Central Station pending a court date. There is nothing further to report.

Do’s and Don’ts

Here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when writing a report:

Keep the report simple: Try to keep the language in your report as simple as possible. If you need help clarifying information or a situation, ask a colleague for assistance before submitting the final copy.
Be clear: Your report needs to be clear and readable so that anyone can read it and understand what happened. For example, if you have more than one individual with the same name, use their full names and birthdates to identify them.
Focus on brevity: The reports should always be as brief and concise as possible. If there is nothing relevant or helpful in your report, then leave it out.
Take care of punctuation: Accurate punctuation is essential to keep your writing clear and readable because wrong punctuation can change the context.
Stay positive: You need to emphasize that you are fair in this report, so try not to be negative when describing events or people. For example, use words like “alleged” when referring to crimes, to be honest without blame.
Specify the report’s approach: Let your reader know what type of report they are about to read so that they can get an idea of how detailed it will be; for example, misdemeanor or felony arrest reports are more in-depth while a patrol activity summary is more general.
Readable report: Keep it simple, clear, and readable for an audience to understand the information provided.
Explain facts accurately: Do not lie or exaggerate in your report because this could jeopardize your job or lead to legal consequences for you.
Logical sequence: Ensure that your report is set up in a way that makes sense and reflects the order of events so that it flows smoothly and logically.
Proofread: Look over your work carefully, ensuring no grammatical or spelling errors before submitting the final copy and turning it to your supervisor.
Avoid using jargon: The reports need to be understood by anyone who reads them, so avoid legal or technical terms that some readers may not know.
Writing in passive voice: Most people prefer action and descriptive sentences over passive ones because they create a more dynamic and effective writing style for reports and other texts.
Do not forget to write the incident results: Your report should always end on a solid note that leaves your audience satisfied and informed about what happened. You must write the final result of the incident.
Writing vaguely: If you are unclear about a situation or event, ask your supervisor for assistance in rephrasing and clarifying it so that it is clear and readable in the final copy.
Stay away from creating a biased report : Your job as a police officer is to remain impartial and fair so try to avoid taking sides.
Mistakes of facts: It is important to double-check all information involved before submitting it for review so that you do not make any mistakes with times, names, places, or the number of individuals present at an incident.
Do not give your opinion: The point of the report is to provide information and facts. Your opinion regarding the events that took place is not required. So avoid giving your personal opinions.

Expert Tips

When writing the report, make sure to follow the 4 C’s:

Clear: Ensure that your writing is not vague or confusing.
Concise: Do not include anything that isn’t necessary to the story.
Complete: Make sure that you’ve covered everything related to the event or incident.
Correct: Double-check facts and spelling to avoid any mistakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

As a police officer, you must write the report for any investigations you are conducting or if someone has filed a complaint. Your superiors may review these reports and use them as evidence in various cases; therefore, they must be clear, concise, and accurate.

When writing a report about a car accident , it is essential to keep the following in mind: There should be a clear introduction to your narrative of what happened, focusing on the sequence of events and people involved. Details about the crash/incident should be included as well as information about injuries and damages. Finally, your conclusion should summarize what happened and any further action that may be taken to address the situation at hand.

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File A Police Report

Filing a false police report is a crime. Anyone filing a false police report may be prosecuted under California Penal Code section 148.5 PC. Filing a false police report is punishable by imprisonment in county jail not exceeding 6 months, or by fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both.

Start An Online Police Report in: English | Spanish – Español

FILING A FALSE POLICE REPORT IS A CRIME Read about California Penal Code Section 148.5 PC

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If your incident did not meet the criteria for online reporting, please dial 1-877-ASK-LAPD (Toll Free) ( 1-877-275-5273 ) (Voice and TDD/TTY) for Non-Emergency Police Response. Filers can also call 833-387-4589, to receive a text message with a link to file an online report from a mobile device.

Welcome to the Los Angeles Police Department Community Online Reporting Service. Using this service allows you to submit select police reports at your convenience.

IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY OR CRIME IN PROGRESS, PLEASE CALL 911.

Harassing Phone Calls: Any person who repeatedly, with the intent to annoy, telephones or makes contact by means of an electronic communication. For example, immediate hang-ups, obscene language, emails, text messages with no known suspects.
Lost Property: Personal property that was unintentionally left by its true owner. For example, property left behind at an unknown location or left behind with no attempt to retrieve it.
Vandalism: Any person who maliciously damages, destroys or defaces the property of another person. For example, knocking over a mailbox, spray painting a wall, or throwing a rock through a window.
Theft: Personal property taken from a publicly accessible location. For example, a package is taken from your porch; or, you left your wallet behind in a restaurant, but when you attempted to go back to retrieve it, the wallet was no longer there.
Theft from Vehicle : Theft from an unlocked or locked vehicle.
Minor Traffic Collisions: Minor injuries and you have exchanged information
Hit and Run: Damage caused by another vehicle in which the driver should have left information or fled the scene without stopping to provide information.
VICE Tips: Tips may be reported filer may remain anonymous.
Narcotics Tips: Tips may be reported filer may remain anonymous.
Identity Theft: Crime location should be reported as the filer’s home residence address (regardless of where the crime is believed to have occurred), and reported to the filer’s local law enforcement agency for investigation.
Hate Incident: A hate incident is any non-criminal act, including words, directed against a person(s) based on that person’s actual or perceived protected characteristics. Hate incidents do not violate criminal law statutes. Hate incidents are generally protected free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

To File an Illegal Dumping Report Online:

Illegal Dumping: Willfully or intentionally depositing, dropping, dumping, placing, or throwing onto public or private property. Illegal dumping is reported and handled by the City of Los Angeles Department of Sanitation. Please click here to file a report.

Your incident must meet the following criteria:

The incident is not an emergency.
The incident occurred within the City of Los Angeles.
You must be at least 18 years old.
No one was injured as a result of this incident.
There are no known suspects.
The incident did not occur on the state highway.
No firearms were involved in the incident.
You must have internet access and an email address.

Once you have submitted your report:

You will immediately receive a temporary report number and be able to print a copy of the report you just made.
All incidents reported using the Community Online Reporting Service will be reviewed, on average once every 24 hours (possibly longer on weekends and holidays), and upon approval will become an official police report.
If further investigation of your reported incident is needed, you will be contacted by email or telephone.
Once the report has been approved, a LAPD report number will be issued and a copy of the final report will be emailed back to you.
Please click here to look up your Community Police Station and then click on the Division name to see the address and phone number.
Supplemental Reports cannot be filed online. To add any additional information, please wait until you have received your final report with a LAPD report number and call your local police station to speak with the detective assigned to your case.

Please note:

If your incident did not meet the criteria for online reporting, please dial 1-877-ASK-LAPD (Toll Free) ( 1-877-275-5273 ) (Voice and TDD/TTY) for Non-Emergency Police Response.

The Community Online Reporting Service (CORS) is ADA compliant and follows the U. S. Federal standards set forth in the “Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards” (Section 508).

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Dealing with Police Officers

How to Obtain a Police Report

Last Updated: December 1, 2023

This article was co-authored by Saul Jaeger, MS . Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018. This article has been viewed 712,032 times.

A police report is a document police officers create after an arrest, accident, or investigation. It explains what happened, details evidence, and provides witness statements and other details. Because these reports are often used in court appearances, settlements, and insurance investigations, having a copy might be very useful for you. Whether they ask you to submit your request in person, via mail, or online, all police departments will provide you with a copy of your police report.

Requesting a Police Report by Mail or Online

Step 1 Determine which law enforcement agency to request the report from.

Find the contact information for the appropriate police department online.
Depending on the jurisdiction, you may only be able to request the report if you were directly involved in the incident.
However, some areas allow anyone to file a report, including lawyers, agents, and family members.

Step 2 Determine whether that city provides police reports by mail or online.

Visit the website for department you're working with. Search for an online form or a downloadable pdf that you can mail back to them.
If you can't find what you're looking for, call the department and ask if they allow mailed requests.

Step 3 Download Adobe Reader if necessary.

Adobe Reader is a free product that will enable you to open, read, and print the form from your home computer.

Step 4 Familiarize yourself with the form.

The names and address(es) of the parties/victim(s) involved
The date and location of the incident
The report or incident number, if available
An insurance policy number and/or claim number. Note: this is required only if the person requesting the report works for an insurance company
A release form from the victim, if an attorney is filing the request
The type of incident — was it a robbery, assault, automobile accident, etc.
Proof of relationship for parents of minor victims or the spouses/relatives of deceased victims
You can view a pdf of the San Francisco PD's request form to familiarize yourself with what documents of this sort look like.

Requesting a Police Report In Person

Step 1 Check the hours for police report requests.

For example, the City of San Diego Police Department only allows in-person requests on Wednesdays between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. [3] X Research source

Step 2 Visit the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Saul Jaeger, MS

Did You Know? Because of the Freedom of Information Act, if you want to get a copy of your police report, you can just visit your local police station to obtain it. Your lawyer or insurance agent may also be able to get a report on your behalf. However, anyone else who wants that report would have to have a legally valid reason.

Step 3 Locate the information desk or records division.

The request form will ask for contact information and identifying details about the incident.
See Method 1 above for a detailed list of information you may be required to provide.
You may have to provide a current photo ID to verify your identity and address before they can process the request. The officers might make a copy of your photo ID for their records.
The waiting period will depend on the individual police department you're working with. Usually, police reports take 1-5 days to be found, processed and copied, but ask the officers helping you for an estimate.

The amount will vary from agency to agency. Call ahead to find out the cost so you bring enough money to the department.

You may not receive your copy of the police report within the time frame the department provided. If that's the case, call them to ask about its status.

Expert Q&A

To expedite the request, bring as much information as possible to the police department, including names of those involved, date, time and location of the incident, and, if possible, the accident report number. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Depending on the circumstance, sometimes identifying information about the involved parties may be deleted or blacked out to protect privacy. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1

Things You'll Need

Report request form
Identification

↑ https://get.adobe.com/reader/
↑ http://www.lapdonline.org/inside_the_lapd/content_basic_view/9136#1
↑ https://www.sandiego.gov/police/services

About This Article

To obtain a police report, start by visiting the website for your local police department to find out if you can request the report online. If you can't, check the website for a form that you can print, fill out, and mail to the police department to request the report. If there aren't any forms online, you may need to visit the department in person to request the police report. For estimates on how long it will take to get a police report after you request it, scroll down. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Master Report Writing

Whenever anyone talks about report writing, images of my academy class and the boring report writing segment always comes to mind. What I didn't know then, but know now, is just how important report writing really is.

As first responders, we consistently spend more time writing reports than on any other single task in law enforcement. The only thing that beats it is probably driving around patrolling our zones. And yet, beyond the academy, we get very little training in writing, period. We are just supposed to fumble through and learn other aspects of technical writing on our own. Because of this, we need to find a way of writing reports that will serve us well throughout our entire career.

As a report writing instructor, I am motivated by a school seal that belongs to the Philips Academy, better known as Andover. Andover is a prep school that was established during the American Revolution and is one of the oldest boarding schools in the country. The school seal was crafted by Paul Revere and includes the Latin phrase, "Finis Origine Pendet," which translates to the end depends on the beginning. The beginning is the focus of this commentary and it will cover the process of report writing.

Question of Style

We tend to write police reports for economy. "Detailed yet concise" becomes the battle cry for supervisors and at the same time creates a nexus for officers. In reality we write quickly so we can get to the next call only to write again. It's a convoluted method that demands a great deal but also tends to ignore some of the more technical aspects of writing. There is a middle ground, however, where technical writing and economy can meet to serve the greater good.

Experienced instructors know they can't teach report writing. By the time people come into law enforcement they either know how to write or they don't. You can't cram 12 years of school into a 40-hour block of instruction no matter how good you are. But what instructors can teach is a particular style of writing.

Style becomes the structure that helps form a quality report. If you focus elsewhere, and replace it with something more restrictive like an outline, then you miss the point altogether. For example, an outline is too rigid. It restricts your ability to maneuver. Combining elements or sections becomes more difficult. If you have ever worked a busy shift where your reports start to stack up, you understand the need to write in as tight a package as possible.

The problem is it's very hard to write concisely. Thomas Jefferson allegedly wrote a friend once and advised he was sorry for the length of his letter, as he did not have time to write a short one. You no doubt know this to be true from experience. We therefore have to strike a balance between writing a novel like "War and Peace" and Dave Smith persona Buck Savage's infamous short report "Saw drunk arrested same."

Journalistic Approach

We write to inform, not to impress. The first step involves using the journalistic approach. You need to answer who, what, when, where, why, and how. It sounds counterintuitive, but it's where police officers fail the most. And it's not because we don't have the information but because we haven't organized the information we do have to our advantage.

A highly effective report writing structure goes like this: how the officer got the call, what the complainant/witness/victim said, what the officer observed, and what the officer did. Adhering to this structure allows any first responder to tackle any initial investigation with ease.[PAGEBREAK]

How You Got the Call

We take for granted the numbers of ways we can get a call for service. We can be dispatched or flagged down. It can be a walk-up, or a follow-up. It's important to state how you got the call even if the investigation proves it to be something else. If it's in progress, you would put that information here as well, up until the situation was under control. Once calmed down, you go on to the next section. For example, if you drive up to find two males fighting, you can't begin your interviews until they get separated, calmed down, and checked for injuries.

What They Said

The next portion involves interviewing any witnesses, victims, complainants, and possible suspects. You summarize and paraphrase each of their testimonies. You should use quotes when they directly apply to the crime or violation. Don't be shy about vulgar language either. If they said it, you can quote it. You are just documenting their version and not necessarily what actually happened.

What You Observed

After your interviews, then write down what you observed. If the house has been ransacked, describe the scene in detail. If your victim has been hit, describe the injuries. If the victim swears someone kicked in the front door but you find no evidence to support the claim, you need to write that down too: "I found no evidence to corroborate that the door was kicked in."

What You Did

The last portion covers what you did while investigating the incident. This includes processing the scene, conducting a neighborhood canvass, or any other action material to the investigation. Minor things like handing out an incident number needn't be documented unless your agency's policies require it. Since this constitutes the last portion, also include a closing statement to let the reader know you are done. It can be as simple as, "The report was forwarded for further review."

General Tips

Don't answer a question and by doing so create a new one. A very common mistake occurs when someone writes, "I processed the scene with negative results." It begs the question, "Where and what did you process?"

If you have multiple witnesses, combine the like testimony and discuss the differences. For example, "Mr. Jones, Mr. Hernandez, and Mr. Smith all agreed that the vehicle was a brown compact. However, Mr. Johnson stated it was a green mid-sized car." This saves you from writing the same thing over and over again.

Work on sentence structure and cut out excessive words whenever possible. Never use seven when five will do. For example, "The victim had no suspect information and desired prosecution," is short and sweet.

You should also convert elements of the crime into sentences. Your report has to prove what you labeled it. "The victim stated that someone without consent entered her home and stole $500 worth of her property." In Florida that describes burglary, without having added any extra fluff.

Putting it All Together

Since style creates structure without locking you into an outline, you can easily combine any section. Here is a simple illustration: "I was dispatched to a burglary over with. Upon my arrival, I met with the victim, Mrs. Jones. She stated someone without consent broke into her home and stole $6,000 worth of jewelry." You have easily combined how you got the call and the elements of the crime, and set yourself up for the next part of the report, which is what the victim said. You even informed the reader that it was forced entry without writing a separate sentence.

Sometimes you'll write a long narrative and a reader can get lost in the details. Using a short summary paragraph at the end helps tie things up nicely. It highlights the totality of the situation and the outcome.

This type of structure helps new officers remove some of their anxiety. For first responders, the length of our reports works in reverse; the more complicated the call the easier the report. For example, most recruits are afraid of handling a homicide. In reality it's one of the easiest reports to write. You arrive, you secure, you contain, and then you call out detectives. Upon their arrival you turn everything over to them (assuming your agency works that way). Your biggest role becomes securing the scene. Your report is very short while a detective's may near book length.

On the flip side, a simple incident like someone hitting someone else might seem like it takes forever to write. This is especially true if you have multiple witnesses and victims on both sides. I have seen prosecution packets of this nature almost an inch thick.

Closing Thoughts

Report writing is relatively simple when you follow the structure of how you got the call, what people said, what you observed, and what you did. This particular style of report writing allows you to tackle any incident as a first responder. If you're a supervisor, don't tell your officers what to write or even how to write. Instead, show them what your agency needs and create a writing style. Give them some structure and let them fill in the blanks. They may just surprise you.

Amaury Murgado is a special operations lieutenant with the Osceola County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office. He is a retired Master Sergeant from the Army Reserve, has 23 years of law enforcement experience, and has been involved with martial arts for 37 years.

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To get a copy of a police report, visit our GRAMA page here.

If you can answer yes to all of the below questions, you are ready to file your report online..

This is not an Emergency?
This incident occurred within the Salt Lake City jurisdiction? View maps
This did not occur on a state highway?
You have a current email address, that you check regularly, to find out if additional information is required or your report has been accepted.

If you answered NO to any of the questions please look at our frequently asked questions section.

Online Police Reporting

Welcome to the Salt Lake City Police Department Online Police Reporting System. Using this online reporting system allows you to submit a report immediately and print a copy of the police report for free. Please make sure to turn off your pop-up blocking software before filing the report.

IMPORTANT: You must put a phone number in at least one of the phone number fields (Home, Cell or Business) in case the follow up Detective needs to contact you for additional information. Follow up contact will NOT be made to an email address.

Please Note:

All cases filed using the Citizen Online Police Reporting System will be reviewed.
Upon review, if further investigation of your case is needed, you may be contacted.
Filing a false police report is a crime.
You must start your case here to get a copy of the report here. And only the categories listed above are reportable online at this time. To request copies of other case reports, you must file a GRAMA request. Click here .

Upon completion of this report process you will:

See the words: “Your online police report has been submitted” showing that your police report is complete.

Upon the Salt Lake City Police Department’s acceptance of your report you will:

Be given a permanent police report case number.
Be able to print a copy of the police report to keep for your records.

To file a report in English, continue below.

Start by choosing a category from those listed below.

If you are a caregiver for someone who may wander due to autism or another disability, please consider adding them to the Special Needs Registry by calling (801) 799-3111 or using the online form . Please provide the following information on each individual:

Address, including apartment number
Date of birth
Guardian’s name and phone number
Any other pertinent information

You may only register individuals who live in Salt Lake City. The information will be entered into our database for use by emergency responders only.

To learn more about Invisible Disabilities—Interacting with Law Enforcement, click here .

Select this report category if you have been the victim of fraudulent use of your credit or debit card.

Select this category to report harassing telephone calls or text messages.

Click to Start Report

Utah Code: 76-9-201. Telephone harassment.

(1) A person is guilty of telephone harassment and subject to prosecution in the jurisdiction where the telephone call originated or was received if with intent to annoy, alarm, intimidate, offend, abuse, threaten, harass, or frighten another at the called number, the person:

a) makes repeated telephone calls, whether or not a conversation ensues, or after having been told not to call back, causes the telephone of another to ring repeatedly or continuously;
b) makes a telephone call and insults, taunts, or challenges the recipient of the telephone call or any person at the called number in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response; or
c) makes a telephone call and threatens to inflict injury, physical harm, or damage to any person or the property of any person.

(2) Telephone harassment is a class B misdemeanor.

Select this category to file the report for a traffic accident without injuries. Before starting please make sure you have the temporary SLCPD case number that was provided to you by dispatch, your car registration information, and driver’s license information. If another vehicle was involved, please also have the other driver’s name and license plate number.

You are involved in an accident where there is damage to your car but nobody is injured or requires medical attention.
You hit a post or mailbox and nobody is injured.

Please note that if the police department was not notified at the time of the accident to receive a case number, a police case will not be filed.

Frequently Asked Questions

To speed up the review and processing of your report, it will help if you enter addresses in the following manner. If both portions of the address are simple N S E or W, you should leave the St Type field blank.

St#	St Dir	St Name	St Type
315	E	200 S	---
300	N	East Capitol	Blvd
750	S	West Temple	St

3 simple ways to instantly improve your report writing

Tactics keep you alive, but report writing keeps you out of trouble.

There are three techniques you can do to instantly improve your police report writing, avoid case dismissal and protect yourself as an officer.

Photo/PoliceOne

This article is part of a series, Report Writing for a New Generation: Merging Technology with Traditional Techniques , which covers general police report writing skills along with plain English instruction, professional and technical writing best practices, and how technology is changing the way officers write.

The series is exclusive content for Police1 members. Not a member? Register here. It is free and easy!

Last year, I attended a weeklong regional technical training course tailored for first-line supervisors. The course covered best practices in managing large-scale chaotic scenes and conducting after-action reviews . After the training, I spoke to one of the instructors, a retired LEO, for more information on after-action reports. I was quickly met with an interesting and borderline discouraging comment: “Officer’s don’t care about reports; they care about tactics. Focus on tactics, and someone else will do the after-action report.”

“Officers don’t care about reports; they care about tactics.” Was that statement true?

I returned to work and decided to review my internal training records. I had plenty of advanced defensive tactics, active shooter and mass casualty response training but to my surprise, I had nothing related to law enforcement report writing . My external training records were just as slim – lots of courses on teaching, fraud investigations and accounting, but very few on how to write a better police report.

My colleagues were in the same boat: lots of tactics training with little to no police report writing training.

Tactics keep you alive, but a well-written police report keeps you out of trouble; however, report writing is something most agencies dismiss as an important officer survival skill.

Luckily, there are three techniques you can do to instantly improve your police report writing, avoid case dismissal and protect yourself as an officer. And the best part is that you do not need formal training and it only takes minutes a day.

1. Don’t write when you are tired

OK, I hear you: “I am always tired, so how can I write when I am not tired?”

Police exhaustion is such a major concern for police agencies that Police1 dedicated an entire podcast segment to fighting fatal fatigue in law enforcement . Unfortunately, being tired is part of the career. So, let me rephrase the heading: Write when you are less tired .

Writing while alert is necessary because the police report-writing process is mentally taxing. An officer starts by reviewing their mental and physical notes, then progresses through a series of prewriting, writing, responding, revising, editing and publishing (sending the report to a supervisor for review). When an officer is mentally exhausted or physically tired, this will lead to mistakes. Note I didn’t say, “this may lead to mistakes.” Being tired will lead to mistakes.

Most police agencies make bad report writing worse with write-it-before-you-go-home policies. After a 10+ hour shift, the last thing any officer wants to do is sit down and write a shoplifting or found property report. Of course, some investigations should be written before going home because of due process rights, immediate follow-up, or investigators are still on scene. But most police reports can be held until the officer returns the next day.

Having a small break between shifts gives an officer’s mind time to process the information and organize their thoughts subconsciously. When an officer is alert and their thoughts are organized, they will be prepared to write accurate accounts of what happened.

Time helps the mind process information.

Even if your agency requires same-day reports, there is a little trick to help mitigate mistakes. In these cases, try to write your report directly after the incident but wait two to three hours to proofread it. You will be surprised at how much extra information your brain will naturally find during that short break. If you think of any additional information after you submitted your police report, just write a supplemental report when you get in the next day.

2. Use spelling and grammar checkers

Over the past five years, I have read thousands of police reports from around the United States. Many of these reports are packed full of simple grammar and spelling mistakes that a word processor’s spellcheck would have caught.

I know that many of these agencies, including mine, use Microsoft Word’s spellcheck feature. So why do we continue making basic spelling and grammar mistakes? I decided to do some digging, and each time I read an exceptionally bad report, I called the agency, not to complain or call them out, but to ask questions. I found that most poorly written reports from 2010 to the present day share three traits:

The officer wrote the report directly in the agency’s records management system (RMS);
The officer did not configure spellcheck; or,
The officer wrote in UPPERCASE.

RMS spell checkers are improving, especially in the new AI integrated RMS 3.0 versions. But as of right now, even the most basic version of Microsoft’s Word spellcheck outperforms any RMS spellchecker. Try to write your report in a word processor first, then copy and paste it into your agency’s RMS.

(If you want to learn more about how to set up spellcheck correctly, read the next article in this series, How to set up spellcheck to proofread your police report , available for Police1 members only.)

Writing in uppercase is an unnecessary annoyance. If you are writing in uppercase, please stop. Your boss, your prosecutor and all the agencies reading your report will thank you. Writing in uppercase is an old technique used to correct bad penmanship, but since we are writing in a word processor, all uppercase writing is not needed. Spellcheck also must be configured correctly for it to catch mistakes in uppercase.

3. Read your report aloud

The best advice I ever received in school is to read reports aloud. Even if your spoken grammar is not perfect, reading your report aloud will help you catch many small grammar and sentence mistakes not caught by spellcheck. If a sentence sounds weird, change it. Nine times out of 10, you will be correct.

Just remember, you don’t need to read LOUD, just aloud. Be courteous of those around you by just whispering.

Good report-writing skills protect officers

You don’t have to become a novelist or a professional writer to be a good writer. But you should put a little effort into becoming a better writer than where you are now. These three techniques are simple and easy to apply and more importantly, they work. Good police report-writing skills will not only protect you on the street from overzealous anti-police lawyers but also in the courtroom, internal affairs investigations and school.

Bonus content: How to train your ear to catch writing mistakes

If you spend time training your ear for writing, you will catch even more mistakes. An excellent way to train your ear for good sentence structure and grammar is to read good literature aloud. I recommend “ The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov ” not because it is an enjoyable read but because his sentences are as close to perfect as they come, and he really focuses on the sound of a sentence. Read one page a day aloud. Ignore the content, just listen to the words and sounds. Your mind will automatically notice sentence parallelism, assonance, rhythm and alliteration – all critical features of a good sentence. When you read your police report aloud, your ear will suddenly pick up the smaller mistakes in your writing.

Next: How to set up spellcheck to proofread your police report

A step-by-step guide to configuring Microsoft’s spelling and grammar checker

Joshua Lee, MA, MALST, CFE, CAMS, CCCI, CTFI, CCIE

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Car Accident Police Report: When & How To Get A Report

Updated: Oct 3, 2022, 12:32pm

Car Accident Police Report: When & How To Get A Report

What is a car accident police report, how to obtain a car accident police report, what’s in a car accident police report, how to get a copy of a police report, how insurance companies use police reports, are police reports admissible in court, what to do after a police report is made, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Getting a police report after a car accident is a critically important step, regardless of whether the incident is a minor fender bender or a serious collision . Understanding what car accident police reports contain, when and how to get one and how a police report may be used during a car accident settlement or lawsuit is essential to protecting your legal rights. This guide explains when and how to get a report so your rights will be protected.

A police report is an incident report created by a law enforcement officer who responds to the scene of a car accident. The report, taken at the scene of the accident, will include specific details related to the crash, statements from drivers and parties involved in the accident, witness statements and other important details noted by the officer. Police reports are necessary to help make determinations of damage and fault after a car accident.

Insurance companies and car accident lawyers place significant emphasis on what the police report contains, especially if the law enforcement’s evaluations point to one driver bearing most — or all — of the fault.

For these reasons, even in a minor car accident, a police report is essential evidence to protect your own legal rights and support any future insurance and legal claims anyone involved in the car accident could make, including seeking a settlement or a car accident lawsuit.

To get a police report after a car accident, you’ll need to bring a law enforcement officer to the scene if one is not already present. Once you and your passengers are in a safe location, call 911 to verify law enforcement and first responders are dispatched to the scene.

You are not legally required to talk to the police, but it may be in your interest to provide your side of the story for the police report. Do not admit fault, either accidentally or intentionally, and speak only about the facts of the incident.

Before the law enforcement officer(s) leaves the scene, obtain their name(s), badge number(s) and the police or incident report number if available.

A car accident police report usually contains the following:

Identifying information about parties involved may include addresses, phone numbers and insurance information
Identifying information for witnesses
Weather, roadway and visibility conditions at the scene
Statements from drivers, passengers and witnesses
Path of the vehicles
Point of collision
Descriptions of damage to the vehicles and or persons involved
Violations of the law or citations, if any
Other findings or conclusions about how or why the accident occurred, including the officer’s opinions as to the cause of the collision and/or a determination of fault

Facts Versus Opinions in Police Reports

Police reports can contain both facts and opinions noted by the law enforcement officer. Details such as the make and model of the vehicles involved, the location and time of the accident and the weather conditions at the scene are facts.

A determination of fault — who caused the car accident, or is mostly to blame — is the opinion of the police officer. The police statement’s opinions still carry weight, but insurance companies will also separately collect relevant information to form their own opinions and conclusions about who is at fault .

If you need to obtain a police report, there are a few ways to do it.

You can request a copy from the local law enforcement office that drafted the report. If you have the report number provided by the responding officer, you can call the traffic division of that agency and they should be able to provide you a copy, usually with an administrative fee (around $15 on average). Some cities will allow you to do this online in addition to in-person.

If you do not have the police report identification number, the agency should be able to locate it if you can provide the date, time, location of the accident and your name.

Alternatively, your insurance company may have already obtained the report, and if so, you may be able to request a copy from them without associated fees.

Note that it could take up to a few weeks for the responding officer to complete the report and for it to become available.

The insurance companies for all parties involved in the car accident will conduct their own investigations into the incident. Since the insurance adjusters were not witnesses to the event, one of the first pieces of evidence they will review is the car accident police report.

In the event an insurance company comes to a different opinion than the police report or the other driver’s insurance denies your claim, a police report could potentially support your case when it comes to a fault determination.

Police reports can be used as evidence in a car accident lawsuit — but only in certain instances and jurisdictions.

Police reports are permitted to be used as evidence in small claims courts, but the rules are different if the case goes to trial in your state’s court of general jurisdiction, also known as a circuit court or superior court. At this level, litigants are held to the rules of evidence, which can sometimes exclude “hearsay” evidence collected as an out-of-court statement.

Some jurisdictions may have exceptions to the hearsay rule and allow you to admit some or all of the police report. In other jurisdictions, police reports may be considered “public records” or “business records” and be entirely admissible.

An experienced personal injury attorney in your jurisdiction can advise whether a car accident police report may be used as evidence.

Most insurance policies require you to report any accident to them within a certain period of time (which could range from one day to 30 days) even if you are not making a claim. Some states also require that you file a report with the DMV about the accident.

After a car accident, you may consider making an insurance claim or filing a lawsuit to recover damages. Alternatively, you may notice the other side has filed an insurance claim or is preparing a lawsuit against you.

Whether or not the police report is on your side in determining who was at fault for the accident, we recommend seeking legal advice and representation from an experienced and qualified car accident lawyer. In addition to protecting your rights and acting as a liaison between all involved parties, an attorney can also help you seek fair, complete compensation for accident-related losses and damages.

Do I need a police report even if no one was hurt?

Yes. Even if no one was hurt in a car accident, a police report can help make determinations about who was at fault and what accident-related losses and compensation you might recover. Additionally, a police report is a key piece of evidence insurance companies will use to form their own opinions about the involved parties’ claims , and may even be admissible in court if the other party files a lawsuit.

How long do you have to make a police report after a car accident?

A police report must be made at the scene of the car accident. If you are involved in a car accident, call law enforcement immediately to begin collecting evidence for the report.

What is the first thing you should do after being involved in a car accident?

Get yourself and your passengers to a safe location and assess for injuries. Then, call 911.

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Filing a false police report is a crime!

Anyone who knowingly makes a false report is guilty of a misdemeanor per 148.5 (a) of the California Penal Code.

On this page:

Crimes that Can/Cannot Be Reported Online

Checklist for Reporting Crime

What happens after i file a report online, file a report online, other ways to report a crime, submit a tip about a crime.

The San Diego Police Department provides a variety of ways that you can report crimes that occurred within the City of San Diego, including an easy online reporting system.

Crimes that Can Be Reported Online

Catalytic converter theft
Fraudulent use of credit/debit/EBT card
Harassing communications (electronically sent only, such as email, text, phone, or social media)
Hit and Run (no evidence or injuries)
Identity theft
Lost or stolen property - excluding firearms, passports, or ID cards.
Metal/grease/oil theft
Theft (not vehicles, license plates, or firearms. Not taken by means of forced entry to residence or business)
Theft from vehicle (not a stolen vehicle)
Vandalism or graffiti
Vehicle tampering, including vandalism

Crimes that CANNOT Be Reported Online

Cases WITH known suspect names. A known suspect is when you or someone else knows the person who committed the crime.
Cases WITH physical evidence requiring impounded or testing by police. You may attach photos to your online report. If you have video evidence, it may be sent to a detective when you are contacted after your online report is approved.
Crimes including physical violence, assault, or robbery.
Crimes outside the City of San Diego, such as on freeways or on a university campus. Find contact information for other agencies
Hate Crimes
Lost / Stolen passports
Residential burglaries (theft from a building)
Stolen vehicles
Stolen license plates
Traffic collisions - SDPD only responds to injury accidents.

The ability of the police to locate and arrest criminals often depends on the thoroughness and accuracy of the report. Use the following list to assist you in reporting your crime:

Type of crime
Date and time crime occurred
Location: exact street address and nearest cross street
Number of persons injured and types of injuries
Vehicle information - type, license number, color, year, make, model, additional people in the vehicle, and unusual characteristics (e.g., dents, bumper stickers)
Suspect(s) information - race, gender, age, height, weight, hair color, hair length/style, eye color, facial hair, clothing type/color, other characteristics (e.g., tattoos, missing teeth, scars, glasses) and information on where they went after the crime was committed
Weapons used
You will be given a temporary police report number.
Your report will be reviewed, and when approved, a Case Number will be assigned to your report.
If further investigation is necessary, you will be contacted via email or telephone. If contacted, you will have seven days to reply.
You will be provided a copy of the police report to keep for your records.
Check your junk mail if you don't receive a confirmation within one week.

Please read the following statements:

You must have a valid email address.
You must be 18 years or older.
The crime must have occurred within the City of San Diego. Find contact information for other agencies
Crimes with known suspects, crimes with physical evidence requiring impound or testing, violent crimes, stolen vehicles, and stolen license plates, cannot be reported online.

I have read the statements above and am ready to file a report online.

Start Your Online Report

To ensure your report is accepted and able to be processed quickly, review sample narratives of common online reports to know what information to provide.

View Sample Narratives

Start Online Report

Call the SDPD Non-Emergency Line at 619-531-2000
Go to your nearest police station . Police station hours of operation may vary. Check hours before you go.
Submit an anonymous tip about a crime to Crime Stoppers
Drug-related activity tip - This form is not to be used to file a police report for a crime that has already been committed. Only for suspected drug activities.
Street Racing / Intersection Takeover tip - This form is not to be used to file a police report for a crime that is in progress or has already been committed.
Get a Police Report

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How can i get a police report online after a car accident, about enjuris attorney editor.

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Police officers are trained to document their observations and actions whenever they’re called to the scene of an accident. This documentation takes the form of a police report (sometimes called a crash report or accident report).

Outside of criminal cases, most people who request a police report do so after a car accident in the hopes that the report will help establish someone else’s liability for the accident.

In this article, we’ll look at what’s inside a police report, how it can be used to support your case, and how to request a police report online.

What information is contained in a police report?

If you’ve ever been involved in a car accident, you’ve likely seen the responding officer walking around the scene of the accident taking notes. These notes are used in the police report, which, for a car accident, contain some or all of the following information:

Name of the responding police officer
Approximate date, time, and location of the accident
Name and contact information of the parties involved in the accident
Name and contact information of any witnesses to the accident
Location of any damage to the vehicles involved in the accident
The weather, roadway, and lighting conditions at the scene
A diagram of the accident
Statements from the parties and witnesses
Citations and/or violations of law
Opinion of the officer as to the cause of the accident

Of course, all police reports aren’t created equal. The general rule of thumb is that the more serious the accident, the more detailed the police report.

How can a police report be used?

If you’re injured in a car accident, you may find yourself trying to prove that another party is at fault for the accident so that you can be reimbursed for your medical expenses.

A police report can help your case in 2 primary ways:

The police report may include contact information for helpful witnesses .
The police report may contain an explanation of the cause of the accident or even a statement about liability.

When you hire a car accident attorney to represent you, one of the first things they will do is reach out to the witnesses identified in the police report to see if they can support your version of events. If the witnesses are helpful to your case, your attorney will have them sign a supporting affidavit and may even take their deposition.

What’s more, the police report may contain a statement from the responding officer explaining the cause of the crash and maybe even identifying who was at fault for the accident.

Keep in mind that these statements are the officer’s opinions and just because an officer says a party is at fault, doesn’t mean the insurance company, judge, or jury will agree.

Can a police report be obtained online?

The process of obtaining a police report varies depending on your jurisdiction.

In general, you’ll need to submit a public records request with the police department responsible for the jurisdiction in which the accident occurred. Sometimes you can search for and request a police report online, such as in Washington State.

Other times, you may need to fill out the public records request online and submit it via email.

Go to the website of the police department responsible for the jurisdiction in which the accident occurred to see if the website outlines a specific protocol for requesting a police report.

In a few jurisdictions, you’ll need to actually fill out and submit the public records request through the mail.

Regardless, of how the public records request is completed and submitted, you’ll generally need to provide some or all of the following information in your request so that the appropriate department can locate the report:

Name of persons involved
Approximate date and time of the accident
Approximate location of the accident

In most cases, there’s a small fee if the report exceeds a certain page limit.

Need help requesting a police report? Locate an attorney using our free online directory .

Reader Interactions

roberto marcello stacey says

January 6, 2021 at 8:37 am

hi, i would like to report a smash of a window which occured at 51 vaughan close. I suspect it may be individuals who live in st budeaux.

Ian Pisarcik says

January 6, 2021 at 11:39 am

Thank you for the comment.

I would recommend calling your local police departmentand reporting the incident.

April 7, 2021 at 9:22 am

I’ve been trying to report a report on a [ name withheld ] that after assaulting me and falsely accusing me of using his vehicle mother and daughter Left me key’s to use and move while he’ was in jail I was arrested without being given opportunity to let them know. After they put protection order against him and I was supposed to be notified 4 hrs before his release so I could pick up my belongings and dogs and police they didn’t and released him at the same time and he robbed my Mercedes Benz keys and my 2 babies stolen and now police won’t go over and try to help me get my babies and keys that cost from 500 to 1000 to get replaced. I got a attorney and now after giving him 500 deposit cause I have no prior records or anything and didn’t do anything wrong can’t even get a phone call back.

Melissa Gold says

April 8, 2021 at 11:46 am

I’m sorry you’re in this situation. First, are there children in danger? If your children are not within the custody of their parent or legal guardian, please contact the police immediately.

For the other issues, it sounds like there’s a complex set of facts and you should be working with the police to at least have documentation of what’s happening. With respect to your lawyer, that’s an issue, too, if they’re not responding to your phone calls. Continue to try to contact the lawyer’s office — by phone, email, or however you can reach out. If they are still unresponsive, you could either find a different lawyer or contact your state bar association for additional resources. I hope that everyone remains safe and this is resolved quickly. Take care.

18+ Fillable Police Report Templates & Examples

As a security guard or police officer, writing an accurate and comprehensive police report is expected from time to time. The police report serves as a report that offers a detailed account of everything as it happened. When writing a police report, you should always stick to the facts. If you’re fascinated by the steps to follow when writing a police report, look no further. This article is a detailed explanation of everything you need to follow when writing a police report.

What Is a Police Report?

The police report is a document written after a crime or incident is reported to a police officer. This report should always be written each time an incident or crime happens and the police get involved. Details to be included in the police report include the victim’s and proprietor’s names, the possible witnesses, the crime committed, and every other important information from the cri.

Police reports are usually written while the victim narrates to the police officer at the local police station how they’ve been victims of a crime. Today, you can also choose to file police reports online thanks to technological advancements for some incidents or crimes. But if you choose to file the police report online, take some time to go over excellent examples of police reports. In addition, carefully read over every piece of information you’re filing to ensure this is the best move for your case.

Police Report Templates and Examples

Essential Elements of a Police Report

When writing the police report, there are a few crucial elements that must be included. The addition of these elements is vital because the information would be added to the police report to help investigate the crime. Here are the critical elements of a police report that must always be included;

The Details Regarding The Incident

All the appropriate information should be included in a well-written police report. These details include;

Where the crime happened
The kind of crime which transpired
The manner the crime was reported and received
The time and date the report was written
If there were any personal injuries suffered

The Reporting Party

This is the details about the reporting party such as;

Physical appearance
Date of birth
Social security number
Marital status
Home address
Relationship of this individual to the culprit

The Victim’s Details

This entails stating the details of the victim, including;

Relationship to the individual who’s committed the crime

In addition, you need to state whether there’s any destruction to the property or whether the victim’s property has been used in doing a crime. This usually needs to be done in a separate section or note.

The Known Suspect

The known suspect can either be a group of persons or one individual, which depends on the number of persons blamed for the crime. For every single suspect, a detailed physical description should be done together with other appropriate information.

A Narration of The Incident

This section entails highlighting the details of events leading to the crime. It should ideally be a firsthand narrative account that the victim or other witnesses gave.

How to Write a Police Report

If you want to write a police report, there are several steps you must follow. Here’s an overview of these steps;

Get The Correct Forms From The Local Police Department

The protocol in place for dealing and reporting a crime differs from one police department to another. In some, you’ll be required to write the police report by hand, while in others, you’ll be given a form to fill. When writing by hand, make sure to print clearly rather than using cursive. It would be best to use word processing software as this is usually free of spelling errors and a lot neater.

Start Writing The Report Right Away

You should always write the police report right after the incident or crime, making it easier to remember the details. Ideally, make sure to do a write-up within 24 hours after the crime. If you aren’t in a position to write the police report the same day, jot down some notes stating exactly what transpired. By doing this, it will be a lot easier to write a police report.

Focus On The Facts

Fill in the spaces in the form, and the details to enter include;

Your name and ID number
The date, time, and location where the incident happened
Name of other police officers present

State The Nature Of The Incident

Detail what exactly drew you to the crime scene. If this was a call, note down the exact time you got the call and proceed to jot down an unbiased sentence explaining everything that’s happened. Also, never write what you assume might have occurred and instead stick to facts for objectivity.

Write-In First Person

In chronological order, explain everything that happened while at the scene of the incident and tell this story from your standpoint. While doing this, use the first person to explain the what, why, when, where, and who of the incident.

Tips for Writing an Accurate Police Report

To ensure your police report is accurate, here are a couple of valuable tips you should follow;

Make sure to include only accurate details and facts. This means only writing down what exactly you saw and not what you did, rewording witness statements in your own words, or gossip. Instead, only write exactly what the witness has stated and know what’s been said by each witness.
The report needs to be comprehensive, detailing everything regardless of how trivial it may look. You also shouldn’t leave your police report to other individuals as they might wrongly misinterpret this information, hence complicating things further. In addition, write down as much as possible about the incident to bring out a clearer picture of the entire incident and everything that transpired.
Make sure your honesty with yourself when writing the police report. This is crucial regardless of how you handled the aftermath or situation or your actions. Otherwise, including incorrect facts will only cause you a lot of trouble down the line once the investigation starts.
Always write the police report clearly and concisely rather than confusing terms or flowery wordings as this might only confuse readers. It’s best to go with factual, direct, and short sentences as this doesn’t leave any room for misinterpretation.
Always double-check the police report to confirm that the details are correct. This is especially important for the names, time, dates, license plates, addresses, and other appropriate information. Also, confirm you have included any critical information that needs to be included in the police report.
Always proofread the report to ensure it doesn’t have grammar and spelling errors that may make it confusing to understand. Consider reading the report aloud, as this will help you find if everything is easily understandable. Likewise, make sure to get rid of any words that may be subjective as they might be seen as depicting feelings or emotions.
After checking and double-checking the police report, you can now go ahead and submit it. But before doing this, first, find out who in your department to give the report and who to later send it to. Ideally, it would be best to submit the police report in person as this gives you time to answer any question should there be a need for added clarification.

Final Thoughts

The police report is usually made right after a crime. If you wanted information on writing this document, you’ve been taken through the steps to follow when writing one. Knowing this, you’re now in a better position to write this document in the event you find yourself a victim of a crime.

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John Lewis is keeping its school uniform prices frozen for the fourth year running.

The department store chain also offers parents an online school uniform checklist to help prepare for the start of the new year.

It also offers a free shoe-fitting service, while some of its newer school uniform products released in the last three years have not seen a price rise.

John Lewis school uniform buyer Cydney Ball said: "Our customers trust us as the one-stop-shop for all things back to school."

Cineworld is drawing up plans to axe dozens of British cinemas as part of a radical restructuring that would also include extensive rent cuts.

Sky News has learned that the company, which until last year was listed on the London Stock Exchange, is considering closing about a quarter of its roughly-100 British multiplexes.

Cineworld also wants to renegotiate rent agreements at a further 50 sites, with the remaining 25 untouched by the restructuring.

Sources said the proposals were expected to be formally outlined to creditors including landlords in the coming weeks.

Read the full story here...

A safety charity has warned England fans against buying cheap electronics online amid a "blitz" of advertising.

Electrical Safety First is urging fans bombarded with ads for discounted goods "don't bring it home" in a new campaign to raise awareness of unregulated online marketplaces.

The charity have previously uncovered substandard and dangerous electrical products across major online marketplaces.

Examples of such include portable heaters posing a serious risk of electrocution, hair straighteners and hair dryers featuring illegal UK plugs and e-bike chargers that pose a fire risk.

"Football, and other global sporting events, are experiencing advertising blitzes by major online marketplaces across the globe, and at a time when millions of people are struggling with finances, we understand how appealing low-cost deals will be," said Electrical Safety First's chief executive Lesley Rudd.

"But it's important for fans to remember that they risk scoring an own goal if the deal they bag turns out to be a substandard or dangerous product.

"Substandard electronics can have serious consequences for your safety and an innocent purchase could put you and your family at risk."

The charity makes the following suggestions to consumers selecting electronics from online marketplaces:

Pay attention to the plug - if a product is listed with a foreign plug and travel adaptor, do not buy it.
Do not buy on price alone - not all bargains are worth it
Make sure you do your homework if you decide to buy products below high street retail prices.
Beware of a product with solely glowing reviews, especially if the reviewers are not verified.
Make sure you know where the supplier is based - a "co.uk" URL doesn't guarantee the website is UK-based.
If there is no address supplied, or there is just a PO Box, be wary; many dodgy electrical goods are manufactured overseas.
Look for websites that allow you to pay safely – these have a padlock symbol in the address bar of the website you are visiting. If you cannot see it, do not enter your payment details.

Consumer spending on car purchases has risen three times faster than for public transport journeys, new figures show.

Around £57.4bn was spent in the UK on new and used cars in 2023, up 6% on five years earlier, according to AA analysis of Office for National Statistics data.

By comparison, consumer spending on public transport - including rail, buses, flights and taxis - was £60.9bn, representing a 2% increase on five years ago.

AA head of roads policy Jack Cousens claimed the figures highlight how vital motoring was for people in the UK, as well as the country's finances.

He said: "These latest ONS figures underline the UK's reliance on cars and the huge amounts of money they generate for the economy - not to mention VAT on that spending, and other tax.

"Cars are not just necessary but essential on so many levels. Even if a significant amount of car use was transformed into take-up of public transport, the impact on the economy and other income generation would be dramatic.

"Just think how much councils would lose if a high percentage of cars stopped turning up to their car parks or needing parking permits, and getting fined.

"The key question is whether what consumers spend on cars would translate into income for public transport and cover the cost of infrastructure investment to enable that.

"It seems that getting travelling consumers to fork out for their own transport and its maintenance, and then tax the heck out of them, is a pretty good deal for the public purse."

Running a car also accounted for a large chunk of the £78.6bn spent on what is described as the operation of personal transport, with spending on fuel and lubricants up 20% since 2018 to £41.7bn.

New car purchases down

But despite the fact more consumers are spending money on cars than on public transport, the number of purchases of new cars by private buyers has declined for nine months in a row, new figures show.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said 67,625 new cars were registered by private consumers in June, down 15.3% from 79,798 during the same month last year.

Ian Plummer, commercial director at Auto Trader, said: "With average new car prices rising almost 40% over the last five years, it's clear cost is the culprit.

"Manufacturers are responding with discounts but they're failing to keep pace, which is forcing many buyers to opt for a used alternative.

"Whoever forms the next government needs to address electric car affordability and provide long-term stability for the market."

Environmental impact

Despite comments from the AA, the billions of pounds spent by consumers every year on cars is having a clear effect on UK roads - where overall traffic levels in 2023 were 2.2% higher than the previous year.

More cars on the roads means more air pollution, which is among the biggest environmental health risks facing people in the UK.

Burning petrol and diesel fuel creates harmful by products like nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, while vehicles emit carbon dioxide, the most common human-caused greenhouse gas.

Even electric vehicles produce particulate matter from the friction between their tyres and the road.

Researchers from University College London estimated that 48,625 adults die prematurely each year in the UK due to particulate matter pollution.

Presently, 79% of the UK exceeds the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual mean guideline for safe fine particulate matter levels.

A Greek restaurant has faced criticism for its "rip off" prices.

Holidaymakers have been warned to stay away from DK Oyster on the popular holiday island of Mykonos, which has received swathes of bad reviews on Tripadvisor .

The restaurant, which describes itself as being an "oasis of ultimate luxury and extravagance", has an average star rating of two on the website - although, in the interests of balance, it has 4.8 on Google reviews.

Angry punters say they were lured into buying a drink at DK Oyster after being told the sunbeds were free, only for the prices for those drinks to be sky-high.

Among the latest to complain is Lori E, who said she returned home from her Greek holiday to see a charge of $876 (£690) for two drinks.

She wrote: "Total rip off! Make sure you get a receipt before leaving and check your credit card because they over charge.

"Was told beds were free to sit it if we order food or drink. No problem....ordered 2 drinks which we afterwards saw were 51 euros each.

"If that wasn't crazy enough we returned to the states and had a $876 charge on our account. FOR 2 DRINKS!!!"

The tourists are now trying to dispute the charge with their credit card company after never receiving a paper copy of a receipt.

Responding to the Tripadvisor review, DK Oyser said: "Our sunbeds come with minimum consumption, so we encourage all visitors to check the menus, before placing their orders.

"I would like to note that our menus are displayed on blackboards near the entrance, showing the prices of our food and drinks to keep our guests informed."

Other reviews claim DK Oyser charged them £253 for sea bass and £100 for a jumbo shrimp that "wasn't cooked properly".

DK Oyster has been contacted for comment.

Iceland is set to partner with parenting website Mumsnet to launch a range of children's products.

Mumsnet CEO Justine Roberts, and the brand's partnership director Sarah Murray-Muncila, met with members of Iceland's innovation team last week to work on the products.

According to The Grocer , the new products will hit the stores in early 2025.

"We've been working on something truly special in partnership with Iceland Foods," Mumsnet said.

"Big things are happening for little ones."

Iceland has launched several new collaborations in recent months, including exclusive products with brands such as Slimming World, MyProtein and boxer Tyson Fury's Furocity.

It's not just a big day in the UK with voters heading to the polls but also in the US with 4 July celebrations taking place.

And there's plenty to celebrate for those with a stake in US stocks.

Last night, there was another record high for the S&P 500 index that tracks the share price performance of the 500 largest companies listed on US stock exchanges.

The performance of companies on the tech firm-heavy New York-based NASDAQ too reached a new high.

It came as Elon Musk's Tesla saw its share price reaching a six-month high, along with the rise and rise of trillion-dollar AI microchip maker Nvidia.

Today and tomorrow will likely be quieter as the US markets close.

In the UK, both the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 and 250 indexes are up - 0.76% in the list of 100 most valuable companies and 0.42% in the 101st to 250th most valued firms.

While the pound does by buy less euro than it did earlier this month, with £1 equal to €1.18 it's still buying more than during most of the last year.

Against the dollar, sterling has held the gains of the last few weeks and a pound will get you $1.2749.

There is no let up for motorists as the oil price is sticking around the two-month high mark. A barrel of the benchmark Brent crude oil costs $86.59.

As house prices continue to rise, so too does the age at which young people can expect to own their own home.

Unfortunately, even the ceiling of the term "young people" isn't far off from being challenged - with fresh research suggesting that the average age of a first-time buyer in the UK is 33 years and 8 months old, according to Mojo Mortgages .

In comparison, in 1960, the average first-time buyer was 23 years old, according to separate research by Keepmoat Homes.

Comparatively, however, the average age of a first-time buyer in 2014 was 32 years, 6 months old, according to the Office for National Statistics.

During the same period, the average price of a house in the UK rose from around £188,000 (January 2014) to £282,000 ( January this year).

Back to today's figures - and those in Wales are able to buy their homes the youngest, with the data suggesting the average first-time buyer there is 31 years old.

Naturally, the older you buy a home, the later in life you'll pay off a mortgage.

With an average mortgage length of 30 years, it seems the average UK first-time buyer isn't expected to be mortgage-free until they are 63 years and 8 months old.

And if you live in the capital, you'll surpass the current retirement age at 66 years, 8 months.

Here's a full breakdown of how old first-time buyers are, the average mortgage length and age they can expect to be mortgage-free by region...

A lot of people have had to renegotiate or extend their mortgages thanks to soaring interest rates in recent years - and the data from Mojo tells us a little about that too.

The study found extending your mortgage term by 10 years (to 35 years) will cost today's average first-time buyer an extra £110,640, which may impact later life planning and their pension.

Barclaycard is cutting the minimum amount its customers have to repay each month.

While the move may sound like good news on the surface, it could well mean you're in debt for longer and end up paying more interest.

At the moment, most Barclaycard customers have a minimum repayment of 3.75% of their balance, 2.5% of their balance plus interest, or £5.

But, from 22 July, that will change to the highest amount out of:

1% of their balance
1% of their balance plus interest

This means if you are currently only paying the minimum on your card, you'll likely repay less each month.

But, minimum amounts are designed to keep people in debt for as long as possible, and lowering them just makes this period even longer.

MoneySavingExpert says the change means it could now take a customer with a £1,000 debt an extra decade to pay it off, if they only pay the minimum amount.

On average, it says it will take 19 years and three months to clear and the interest will total £1,655.

Founder of MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis says the change is "worryingly under the radar" and urged customers to check if their repayments are set to the minimum amount.

"Minimum repayments have always been credit card firms' secret weapon. Letting people repay little looks appealing – hence why Barclaycard says this is about 'flexibility'. Yet it takes flexibility to kick your own backside, and this will hurt some just as much," he said.

A Barclays spokesperson told Sky News: "We regularly review our products and from July, some Barclaycard customers will see changes to their minimum monthly payments, alongside adjustments to the APR.

"Customers will benefit from a reduction in their minimum monthly repayment and the vast majority have no change to APR, while some will receive a decrease.

"We have made these changes to increase flexibility for our customers and have been clear in our communications that paying more than the minimum can help customers clear their balance sooner and pay less interest."

Marks and Spencer is to launch a clothing repair service next month.

The retail giant has teamed up with clothing repair and alterations experts SOJO, which was founded in 2021 by Josephine Philips, to give clothes "another life".

From August, M&S customers will be able to book a bespoke repair service through a new online hub, "M&S Fixed by SOJO".

Repairs will start from £5 and be carried out by SOJO's in-house repair team.

The items will then be returned directly to the customer's doorstep within seven to 10 days.

Richard Price, managing director of clothing and home at M&S, said: "Through the launch of our repair service, we're making it even easier for customers to give their clothes another life, whether they are using our new repair service or long-standing clothes recycling scheme."

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2024 presidential debate fact-check: how accurate were joe biden, donald trump.

From left, former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden debate June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP)

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Democratic and Republican presidential nominees, shared a debate stage June 27 for the first time since 2020, in a feisty confrontation that — thanks to debate rules — managed to avoid the near-constant interruptions that marred their previous meetings.

Biden, who spoke in a raspy voice at the debate’s start, struggled at times, at one point saying that his administration "finally beat Medicare." After the debate, during a stop at a Waffle House, Biden told reporters he had a sore throat, according to the pool report.

Trump, meanwhile, repeated numerous falsehoods, including that Democrats want doctors to be able to abort babies after birth.

Trump attacked Biden’s record, blaming inflation and other issues on Biden’s "insane and stupid policies." Biden questioned Trump’s conduct, noting that Trump is a convicted felon and saying he has the "morals of an alley cat."

CNN hosted the debate, which had no audience, at its Atlanta studio. CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash moderated. The debate format allowed CNN to mute candidates’ microphones when it wasn’t their turn to speak.

Biden and Trump clashed on the economy, immigration and abortion, and revisited discussion of their ages. Biden is 81; Trump is 78.

Read by topic:

Immigration Abortion Inflation and economy Jobs Trump legal cases Social Security, Medicare and taxes Checking the record on Hitler comment and Charlottesville Crime Health care Foreign policy and terrorism Election denial and Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol Worst president rankings The golf moment

Trump: Biden "allowed millions of people to come in here from prisons, jails and mental institutions."

Pants on Fire! Immigration officials arrested about 103,700 noncitizens with criminal convictions (whether in the U.S. or abroad) from fiscal years 2021 to 2024, federal data shows. That accounts for people stopped at and between ports of entry.

Not everyone was let in. The term "noncitizens" includes people who may have had legal immigration status in the U.S. but were not U.S. citizens.

The data reflects the people that the federal government knows about, but it’s inexhaustive. However, immigration experts said despite the data’s limitations, there is no evidence to support Trump’s statement.

Biden: "I've changed (the law) in the way that now you're in a situation where there are 40% fewer people coming across the border illegally."

Mostly True . The Department of Homeland Security announced that illegal immigration encounters dropped by 40%, to fewer than 2,400 each day , in the weeks after Biden announced a policy largely barring asylum access for people entering the U.S. at the southern border. The policy was announced June 4.

But immigration experts caution that it’s difficult to pinpoint a single reason for any change in border crossings. For example, other factors, such as hot weather , can affect migration patterns.

Since the policy was announced only a few weeks ago, it’s unclear whether the drop in illegal immigration will continue .

Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, associate policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, told PolitiFact the policy could have a short-term deterrent effect. But Adam Isacson, defense oversight director at the Washington Office on Latin America, a research group, told PolitiFact, that no crackdown in the past decade has had a lasting impact.

Trump: "We had the safest border in the history of our country."

Mostly False . Illegal immigration between ports of entry at the U.S. southern border dropped in 2017, Trump’s first year in office, compared with previous years. Apprehensions then rose, and dropped again in 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic started, immigration dropped drastically worldwide as governments enacted policies limiting people’s movement.

In the months before Trump left office, illegal immigration was rising again. A spike in migrants , especially unaccompanied minors , started in the spring 2020 during the Trump administration and generally continued to climb each month.

Illegal immigration during Trump’s administration was higher than under both of former President Barack Obama’s terms.

Biden: While talking about a bipartisan border bill, "by the way, the Border Patrol endorsed me, endorsed my position."

Half True . The National Border Patrol Council — the U.S. Border Patrol’s union endorsed a bipartisan border security bill in February. But it didn’t endorse Biden.

Here's what Brandon Judd, the union’s president, said about the bill in February:

"While not perfect, the Border Act of 2024 is a step in the right direction and is far better than the current status quo. This is why the National Border Patrol Council endorses this bill and hopes for its quick passage."

Biden also supported the bill and said he would sign it into law if it passed. The bill failed in the Senate on a 49-50 vote .

However, Judd and the Border Patrol union have been critical of Biden and his immigration policies and endorsed Trump in the 2020 election.

"To be clear, we never have and never will endorse Biden," the National Border Patrol Council said in an X post during the debate.

Trump: Biden allowed in "18 million people."

False . Immigration officials have encountered immigrants illegally crossing the border 9.7 million times under Biden’s presidency. When accounting for "got aways" — people who aren’t stopped by border officials — the number rises to about 11.4 million.

But encounters don’t mean admissions . Encounters represent events, so one person who tried to cross the border twice counts for two encounters. Also, not everyone encountered is let in. Many encounters result in deportations. The Department of Homeland Security estimates about 4 million encounters have led to expulsions or removals.

Trump: "The problem (Democrats) have is they're radical, because they will take the life of a child in the eighth month, the ninth month, and even after birth." False. Willfully terminating a newborn’s life is infanticide and is illegal in every U.S. state.

Most elected Democrats who have spoken publicly about this have said they support abortion under Roe v. Wade’s standard, which provided abortion access up to fetal viability. This is typically around 24 weeks of pregnancy, when the fetus can survive outside of the womb. Many of these Democrats have also said they support abortions past this point if the treating physician deems it necessary. Medical experts say situations resulting in fetal death in the third trimester are rare — less than 1% of abortions in the U.S. occur after 21 weeks — and typically involve fatal fetal anomalies or life-threatening emergencies affecting the pregnant woman. For fetuses with very short life expectancies, doctors may induce labor and offer palliative care. Some families choose this option when facing diagnoses that limit their babies’ survival to minutes or days after delivery. Some Republicans who have made claims similar to Trump’s point to Democratic support of the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022 , citing the bill’s provisions that say providers and patients have the right to perform and receive abortion services without certain limitations or requirements that would impede access. Anti-abortion advocates say the provisions in the bill, which failed to advance 49-51, would have created a loophole that eliminated any limits to abortions later in pregnancy. Alina Salganicoff, director of KFF’s Women’s Health Policy program, said the legislation would have allowed health providers to perform abortions without obstacles such as waiting periods, medically unnecessary tests and in-person visits, or other restrictions. The bill would have allowed an abortion after viability when, "in the good-faith medical judgment of the treating health care provider, continuation of the pregnancy would pose a risk to the pregnant patient’s life or health."

Trump: "He caused this inflation. I gave him a country with … essentially no inflation. It was perfect."

Mostly False . When Biden was inaugurated, year-over-year inflation was about 1.4%. However, that was shaped by the still-weak economy during the coronavirus pandemic, which was still a serious threat when Biden was inaugurated.

As the pandemic conditions improved, the economy accelerated. Consumers were ready to buy products, but the pandemic had prompted supply chain shortages. This, combined with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which raised gasoline prices, led to inflation, peaking at 9% about a year and a half into Biden’s presidency. That was the highest in about four decades.

Economists generally say Biden’s coronavirus relief plan, the American Rescue Plan, did exacerbate inflation by putting more money into consumers’ hands at a time when supplies were running short. But they do not believe that Biden caused high inflation single-handedly.

Trump: "You look at the cost of food, where it's double, triple and quadruple."

False. Food costs have risen faster under President Joe Biden than under any of his five most recent predecessors. However, the 21% increase in food prices on Biden’s watch is well below what Trump claimed. Quadrupling food costs would be an increase of 300%, or more than 10 times larger than what Trump said.

Specific categories of food have spiked more than food prices overall. For instance, egg prices are 84% higher today than when Biden took office. But for every food category that has outrun overall food inflation, there’s another category that has risen more slowly than average.

Also, this increase was spread over three and a half years, making the annual increase about 6%, part of which has been offset by rising wages .

Biden: "Economists say (Trump’s proposed tariffs are) going to cost the average American $2,500 a year or more."

Mostly True. Most economists expect that Trump’s proposed 10% across-the-board tariff on foreign products will force consumers to pay more. The specific size of that hit is open to debate, though Biden offered a figure somewhat higher than current estimates.

Just days before the debate, the American Action Forum, a center-right think tank, projected additional costs per household of $1,700 to $2,350 annually.

The Peterson Institute of International Economics, another Washington, D.C.-based think tank, projected that such tariffs would cost a middle-income household about $1,700 extra each year.

Biden: Semiconductor jobs "to build these chips … pay over $100,000. You don’t need a college degree for them."

Mostly False . The average semiconductor industry salary is around $170,000, figures from Oxford Economics and Semiconductor Industry Association, a trade group, show. But this figure includes all jobs within the industry and doesn’t single out jobs requiring no college degree.

To earn a salary of $110,000 or higher, employees in the semiconductor industry need undergraduate or graduate-level degrees, the groups say.

The most a person would make without a four-year degree is about $70,000, according to a 2021 report from the Semiconductor Industry Association and Oxford Economics.

Biden: "Black unemployment is the lowest level it’s been in a long, long time."

Mostly True . The record for low Black unemployment rate was set under Biden in April 2023, at 4.8%. It has risen modestly since then to 6.1% in May 2024, but that’s still lower than it was for much of the first two years under Trump.

Overall, Trump had success on this statistic, too. When Biden set the record, the record he was breaking was Trump’s: 5.3% in August and September 2019.

Trump: "The only jobs (Biden) created are for illegal immigrants and bounce-back jobs, bounce-back from the COVID."

False . Since Biden took office in early 2021, the number of foreign-born Americans who are employed has risen by about 5.6 million. But over the same time period, the number of native-born Americans employed has increased by almost 7.4 million. (There are many more native-born Americans than foreign-born Americans, so on a percentage basis, the increase for foreign-born Americans is about 22%, compared with 6% for native-born Americans.)

It’s also wrong to say that all the foreign-born employment gains (much less all the employment gains) stem from migrants here illegally. The data for foreign-born Americans includes anyone born outside the U.S., including immigrants who have been in the United States legally for decades.

Employment on Biden’s watch passed its prepandemic level by June 2022, about a year and a half into his term. Since then, the U.S. economy has created an additional 6.2 million jobs.

Trump: Biden "indicted me because I was his opponent."

False . The Manhattan district attorney’s investigation into Trump’s business records began before Biden was president, but Biden was president by the time Trump was charged in 2023.

After Michael Cohen, who had been an attorney for Trump, pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018, then-Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. began investigating the payments, Politico reported . That was before Biden was president. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg hired a former Justice Department prosecutor in 2022. But experts told us that doesn’t prove Biden was involved.

Trump has also been indicted by a Fulton County, Georgia, grand jury and two federal grand juries. Biden is not responsible for state or federal prosecutors’ decisions to present cases to grand juries.

Trump: "Social Security, he's destroying it, because millions of people are pouring into our country, and they're putting them onto Social Security. They're putting them onto Medicare, Medicaid."

False . It’s wrong to say that immigration will destroy Social Security. Social Security’s fiscal challenges stem from a shortage of workers compared with beneficiaries.

Immigration is far from a fiscal fix-all for Social Security’s challenges. But having more immigrants in the United States would increase the worker-to-beneficiary ratio, potentially for decades, thus extending the program’s solvency, experts say.

Most immigrants in the U.S. illegally are also ineligible for Social Security. However, people who entered the U.S. illegally and were granted humanitarian parole — a temporary permission to stay in the country — for more than one year, are eligible for Social Security.

Immigrants in the U.S. illegally also are generally ineligible to enroll in federally funded health care coverage such as Medicare and Medicaid. (Some states provide Medicaid coverage under state-funded programs regardless of immigration status. Immigrants are eligible for emergency Medicaid regardless of status.)

Biden: Trump "wants to get rid of Social Security, he thinks there's plenty to cut in Social Security."

False . Biden went further than previous attacks to say Trump would cut the program entirely. In a March CNBC interview , Trump said of entitlement programs such as Social Security, "There’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting."

However, Trump quickly walked that statement back. Also, his campaign website says that not "a single penny" should be cut from Social Security, and he’s repeated similar lines in campaign rallies.

Before the 2024 campaign, Trump said about a half dozen times that he’s open to major overhauls of Social Security, including cuts and privatization.

Trump: "He wants to raise your taxes by four times. He wants to raise everybody's taxes by four times."

False . Biden proposed a tax increase of about 7% over the next decade, which is far lower than the 300% increase that former President Donald Trump claimed. (Doubling would be a 100% increase and tripling would be a 200% increase.)

About 83% of the proposed Biden tax increase would be borne by the top 1% of taxpayers, a level that starts at just under $1 million a year in income.

Taxpayers earning up to $60,400 would see their yearly taxes decline on average, and taxpayers earning $60,400 to $107,300 would see an annual increase of $20 on average.

Biden: "I said I’d never raise the tax on anybody if you're making less than $400,000. I didn’t."

Mostly True . Biden has said repeatedly that he will not raise taxes on anyone making less than $400,000, a promise he campaigned on in 2020 .

He has not raised any individual income taxes on Americans earning less than $400,000 a year. It’s always possible that individual taxpayers could see increases because of changes in their personal circumstances.

Some corporate tax increases enacted on Biden’s watch have a small projected pass-through effect on taxpayers. Economists generally allocate a portion of the tax burden from corporate taxes to shareholders and partly to consumers, who often pay higher prices as corporations factor the higher taxes into pricing of goods and services.

The White House has told PolitiFact that Biden would let the tax cuts Trump signed in 2017 expire for wealthier taxpayers, but would not let Americans making less than $400,000 see any tax increase.

Trump: "I gave you the largest tax cut in history."

False . When it was passed in 2017, Trump’s tax cut was, in inflation-adjusted dollars, the fourth-largest since 1940. And as a percentage of gross domestic product, it ranked seventh in history, according to figures published by the Treasury Department.

Biden: Trump said, "I don't want to go in (a World War I cemetery in France), because they're a bunch of losers and suckers."

Trump called this a "made-up quote." Both statements need context.

A September 2020 article in The Atlantic cited unnamed sources as saying that Trump called Americans who died in wars "suckers" and "losers" when he canceled a trip in 2018 to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris.

"Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers," The Atlantic reported Trump said, citing multiple unnamed sources. In a separate conversation, also according to unnamed sources, he said U.S. Marines who lost their lives in World War I’s Battle of Belleau Wood were "suckers" for getting killed.

John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff, confirmed elements of The Atlantic’s story three years later in an October 2023 statement to CNN , including that Trump referred to military members who were killed or wounded as "suckers" and "losers."

But Trump has long denied these allegations.

Biden: "This is a guy who says Hitler's done some good things."

This is a reference to a passage in a book by CNN anchor Jim Sciutto in which Kelly, Trump's former chief of staff, described a conversation he had with Trump.

"He said, ‘Well, but Hitler did some good things,’" Kelly said . "I said, ‘Well, what?’ And he said, ‘Well, (Adolf Hitler) rebuilt the economy.’"

According to the book, Kelly also told Sciutto that Hitler had the "loyalty" of his senior staff, unlike Trump.

There is no independent verification of this conversation. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung told CNN in March that Kelly suffered from "a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome," but didn’t address the specific allegations.

Biden: Trump called Nazis protesting in the crowd in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 "very fine people."

Trump vehemently denied Biden’s characterization. Here’s what happened. In comments to reporters following violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the removal of a Confederate general’s statue, Trump said of marchers who protested the removal, "You had some very bad people in that group, but you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides."

During back-and-forth remarks with reporters, Trump separately condemned the "neo-Nazis and the white nationalists."

"But not all of those people were neo-Nazis, believe me," Trump said. "Not all of those people were white supremacists by any stretch."

Trump also said that counterprotesters had similar makeup of "good" and "bad" people — "some fine people" and also " troublemakers" and "bad people."

Trump: "What he's done to the Black population is horrible, including the fact that for 10 years, he called them super predators … in the 1990s."

False . In a 1993 Senate floor speech, Biden, then a U.S. senator from Delaware, spoke about doing something for young people who lacked supervision, structure or opportunities. He said the country needed to focus on them, because otherwise, a portion of them would "become the predators 15 years from now."

Biden did not single out any racial or ethnic group. In a 1998 speech at an attorneys general conference, Biden also used the term "predators." He didn’t say he was talking about Black youth.

Biden: "We brought down the price (of) prescription drug(s), which is a major issue for many people, to $15 for an insulin shot, as opposed to $400."

Half True . Biden touted his efforts to reduce prescription drug costs by referring to the $35 insulin price cap his administration instituted as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. But he flubbed the number during the debate, saying it was lowered to $15. In his closing statement, Biden corrected the number to $35.

The price of insulin for Medicare enrollees starting in 2023 dropped to $35 a month, not $15. Drug pricing experts told PolitFact when we rated a similar claim that most Medicare enrollees were likely not paying a monthly average of $400 before the changes, although because costs vary depending on coverage phases and dosages, some might have paid that much in a given month.

Biden: Trump "wants to get rid of the ACA again."

Half True . In 2016, Trump campaigned on a promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or ACA. In the White House, Trump supported a failed effort to do just that. In the years since, he has repeatedly said he would dismantle the health care law in campaign stops and social media posts throughout 2023.

In March, however, Trump walked back this stance, writing on Truth Social that he "isn’t running to terminate" the ACA but to make it "better" and "less expensive." Trump hasn’t said how he would do this.

Trump: "I'm the one that got the insulin down for the seniors."

Mostly False . When he was president, Trump instituted the Part D Senior Savings Model , a program that capped insulin costs to $35 a month for some older Americans in drug plans that chose to participate.

But because it was voluntary, 38% of all Medicare drug plans , including Medicare Advantage plans, participated in 2022, according to KFF. Trump’s voluntary plan also covered only one form of each dosage and insulin type.

Biden points to the Inflation Reduction Act’s mandatory $35 insulin cap as a major achievement. This cap applies to all Medicare prescription plans. It also expanded the cap to all covered insulin types and dosages. Although Trump’s model was a start, it did not have the sweeping reach that Biden’s mandatory cap achieved.

Biden: "I’m the only president this century that doesn't have any, this decade, that doesn’t have any troops dying anywhere in the world like he did."

False . Some U.S. service members have died in combat abroad during Biden’s presidency.

In August 2021, 13 U.S. service members were killed in an attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan under Biden’s administration. No U.S. service member deaths were reported in 2022, Defense Department data shows. Full government data for U.S. active duty military deaths is not available for 2023 or 2024. This January, three U.S. soldiers were killed in a drone strike in Jordan.

During Trump’s presidency, from January 2017 to January 2020, 65 U.S. service members were killed in combat, Defense Department data shows.

Trump: "We had no terror (attacks) under my administration."

False . During Trump’s presidency, there were several major terror attacks, some linked to extreme global jihadist ideology.

In 2017, there were two separate attacks in New York City, which Trump himself acknowledged as "terrorist attacks" during his 2018 State of the Union address.

There was also a December 2019 mass shooting by a member of Saudi Arabia’s air force who was studying at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida. Three U.S. service members were killed and eight were wounded by the gunman, who had expressed anti-American and anti-Israel sentiments on social media. Trump’s Attorney General William Barr described the shooting as "an act of terrorism."

Trump’s Justice Department also prosecuted several cases of domestic terrorism.

Excluding unsuccessful attacks and those for which officials doubt motive, there were 220 terror incidents in the United States of varying severity during Trump’s presidency from 2017 to 2020, according to the Global Terrorism Database at the University of Maryland, which tracks incidents of terrorism.

Trump: Regarding the 2020 election, "the fraud and everything else was ridiculous."

False . There is some fraud in every election, but it was not enough to change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. And some fraudulently cast ballots involved defendants who were either registered Republicans or said that they supported Trump .

Federal and state officials , including Republicans in Georgia , said the 2020 election was legitimate. Trump’s own attorney general, William Barr, said that he had not seen fraud on a scale that would invalidate Joe Biden’s victory.

As Trump faced reelection in 2020, he said Biden could win only if the election was rigged. Numerous investigations, court cases and reviews yielded no evidence of widespread rigging in the 2020 presidential election.

Elections are administered in thousands of local areas nationwide, each with safeguards, making any attempt to "rig" a national election highly improbable.

Trump: Pelosi said "I take full responsibility for Jan. 6."

False . That’s not what former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said.

In a 41-second video taken on Jan. 6, 2021, Pelosi said, "I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more," referring to U.S. Capitol security. She did not say she took responsibility for the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

Records show that Pelosi approved a Jan. 6, 2021, request to seek support from the National Guard and pushed to get National Guard troops to the U.S. Capitol when their deployment was delayed by hours that day.

Biden: Presidential historians "voted who was the worst president in American history. From best to worst. They said (Trump) was the worst in all of American history."

True . The 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey, released in February, collected responses from 154 presidential historians, which included current and recent members of the American Political Science Association. The survey ranked Biden as the 14th best president in U.S. history, and put Trump last.

The historians were asked to give every president a score, from zero to 100. Abraham Lincoln topped the list with an average score of 95, while Biden scored an average of 62.66. Trump averaged just under 11 points.

Somehow the presidential debate turned into a fight over who’s the better golfer. Biden said he would have a driving competition with Trump and claimed he was a 6 handicap while serving as vice president.

Trump scoffed. "He can hit a ball 50 yards."

Joe Biden is currently listed with the United States Golf Association as holding a 6.7 handicap playing out of Fieldstone Golf Club in Delaware. Biden hasn’t logged a score in the system since 2018. Scores are typically self-reported, and a handicap comes from an average of the lowest 8 of the most recent 20 posted scores.

The lower the handicap you have, the better golfer you are. Ivanka Trump, for instance, is a 20.9 handicap and Eric Trump is listed as a 13.6 (without a round since 2015). Donald Trump is in the system as a member of the prestigious Winged Foot Golf Club in New York. He lists a handicap of 2.5 but hasn’t posted a score since 2021.

PolitiFact PolitiFact Executive Director Aaron Sharockman, Chief Correspondent Louis Jacobson, Senior Correspondent Amy Sherman, Staff Writers Grace Abels, Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu, Maria Briceño, Jeff Cercone, Madison Czopek, Marta Campabadal Graus, Ranjan Jindal, Mia Penner, Samantha Putterman, Sara Swann, Maria Ramirez Uribe, Researcher Caryn Baird, KFF Health News Senior Correspondent Julie Appleby and KFF Health News Mountain States Editor Matt Volz contributed to this story.

Our debate fact-checks rely on both new and previously reported work. We link to past work whenever possible. In some cases, a fact-check rating may be different tonight than in past versions. In those cases, either details of what the candidate said, or how the candidate said it, differed enough that we evaluated it anew.

Our Sources

Sources linked in story.

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

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Report a crime
How to file a police report or report crime anonymously. To file a police report, search online for the local law enforcement agency's contact information where the crime occurred. Most local law enforcement agencies accept anonymous tips or crime reports online or by phone. To learn more, contact your local police department.
How to write a police report
Set the scene, by introducing the people, property and other information before it is discussed. Police report writing sets the scene to explain and understand the incident. The information and methods in this article are more fully discussed my book "Report Writing For Law Enforcement & Corrections.".
How to Write a Police Report: Structure, Tips, & Samples
Start writing your report as soon as possible after the incident, so it's still fresh in your mind. Recount the events that occurred in detail, including the date, time, and location of the incident, as well as the names of other officers who were present. Focus on the facts, and be as thorough as possible. Part 1.
How to File a Police Report: Online & Offline Resources
1. Find your local police department's website. Do a quick internet search with the word "police" and the name of your city or the city where the incident happened. Once you're on the website, look for a link or tab labeled something like "Online Crime Reporting" and click it to get started.
Perspective: Writing Clear, Effective Police Reports
Report writing continues to be a vital task for law enforcement. Police officers often have heard that the most powerful instrument they carry is a pen. 1 Unfortunately, writing reports sometimes intimidates recruits, instructors, administrators, and even seasoned officers. Law enforcement reports become scrutinized more than most documents. 2 Fear of mistakes often triggers memories of school ...
Nypd Online
Welcome to the NYPD Online Reporting Service. Using this service allows you to file a police report online for certain crimes or incidents. If you need immediate police assistance, please dial 911 or call your local precinct. At any point during the process you may be prompted to complete your report in person at a police department facility.
Police Reports
For Crime Reports That CAN NOT Be Filed Online, Please Go To Your Nearest Police Station. File a police report online: If you have an email address you can file an online police report for many types of crime by clicking below on the language of your choice. File a Police Report in English. Presentar un informe policial en español ...
PDF The Criminal Justice Report Writing Guide for Officers
The Stages of Report Writing. Like any writing task, report writing proceeds in three stages: Preparation, drafting, and revising. Preparation includes observing, interviewing, investigating, and taking notes. Drafting involves organizing and recording the information on paper or a laptop.
PDF Writing a Police Report
Writing a Police Report Writing Basics When writing a police report, you also want to abide by the 4 C's: Clear: Try to be as specific as possible. Avoid any vague statements or phrases. Concise: Avoid overly wordy language. Keep statements simple and direct. Complete: Include all relevant information.
How To Write Better Police Reports
Your survival in a civil or criminal trial is only as good as your report. Make your report writing better and you'll survive any courtroom challenge. Read reports written by fellow officers who have a reputation for being thorough and accurate. Talk with other officers about their experiences.
File a police report
To file a report online, you must be over 17 years old and have a valid email address. If you need a language other than English, click ENGLISH in the top right corner of the online reporting page. Select your preferred language from the list of languages. Please write your report in your preferred language.
PDF REPORT WRITING GUIDE
150 Alhambra Circle, Suite 1270 Coral Gables, FL 33134. AGEMENT.COMPURPOSE:This guide will help develop the skills needed to write a comprehensive, accurate, and arti. ulate police report. The ability to accurately record the facts and circumstances of an incident is a cornerston. of law enforcement. How clearly, concisely, and truthfully the ...
How to Write a Police Report (Pro Examples & Templates)
Officer name: The officer's name should be written at the top of the report to avoid confusing who wrote it. It will also help with record keeping. Time: This will allow for accurate date stamping of the report. Location of an incident: The report should also include the specific location of where the crime occurred.
File A Police Report
If your incident did not meet the criteria for online reporting, please dial 1-877-ASK-LAPD (Toll Free) ( 1-877-275-5273) (Voice and TDD/TTY) for Non-Emergency Police Response. Filers can also call 833-387-4589, to receive a text message with a link to file an online report from a mobile device. Welcome to the Los Angeles Police Department ...
How to Obtain a Police Report: 11 Steps (with Pictures)
2. Determine whether that city provides police reports by mail or online. Some cities ask you to request police reports in person at the police station. However, you might be working with a department that lets you file a request either by mail or on the internet. Visit the website for department you're working with.
How to Master Report Writing
This particular style of report writing allows you to tackle any incident as a first responder. If you're a supervisor, don't tell your officers what to write or even how to write. Instead, show them what your agency needs and create a writing style. Give them some structure and let them fill in the blanks.
Online Report
Using this online reporting system allows you to submit a report immediately and print a copy of the police report for free. Please make sure to turn off your pop-up blocking software before filing the report. IMPORTANT: You must put a phone number in at least one of the phone number fields (Home, Cell or Business) in case the follow up ...
File a Police Report
Welcome to the North Las Vegas Police Department's Online Police Report Center. Please ensure the following is true in order to file an online police report, also known as an E-Police Report: ... Any writing, drawing or symbol applied to any surface without the consent of the property owner or their agent. (Example: Spray painting buildings ...
3 tips for officers on how to improve police report writing
Writing in uppercase is an old technique used to correct bad penmanship, but since we are writing in a word processor, all uppercase writing is not needed. Spellcheck also must be configured correctly for it to catch mistakes in uppercase. 3. Read your report aloud. The best advice I ever received in school is to read reports aloud.
Car Accident Police Report: When & How To Get A Report
A car accident police report usually contains the following: Details of the car accident, including the people, vehicles and property involved. Identifying information about parties involved may ...
File a Police Report
File a Report Online. Please read the following statements: You must have a valid email address. You must be 18 years or older. The crime must have occurred within the City of San Diego. Find contact information for other agencies. Crimes with known suspects, crimes with physical evidence requiring impound or testing, violent crimes, stolen ...
How to Request a Police Report: Online and Through the Mail
In general, you'll need to submit a public records request with the police department responsible for the jurisdiction in which the accident occurred. Sometimes you can search for and request a police report online, such as in Washington State. Other times, you may need to fill out the public records request online and submit it via email.
18+ Fillable Police Report Templates & Examples
The police report is a document written after a crime or incident is reported to a police officer. This report should always be written each time an incident or crime happens and the police get involved. Details to be included in the police report include the victim's and proprietor's names, the possible witnesses, the crime committed, and ...
Ask a question or make a comment
The department store chain also offers parents an online school uniform checklist to help prepare for the start of the new year. It also offers a free shoe-fitting service, while some of its newer ...
2024 presidential debate fact-check: How accurate were Joe Biden
The most a person would make without a four-year degree is about $70,000, according to a 2021 report from the Semiconductor Industry Association and Oxford Economics.
Fact checking the CNN presidential debate
According to a December 2023 report from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, the EU is the second-largest market for US vehicle exports — importing 271,476 US vehicles in 2022 ...

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