Criminal complaint (crime report)

A criminal complaint is the notification of a suspected crime to the competent authorities. It may be made to the public prosecutor's office or the police, and may also be channelled through governorships, district governorships and, abroad, embassies. Written submissions through electronic systems are also possible.

Anyone may file a complaint; being the victim is not required. Public officials must report crimes learned in the course of duty, and comparable duties apply to healthcare workers. Upon notification, the prosecutor assesses whether to open an investigation to establish the truth of the matter.

Setting out the events, the persons involved and the evidence clearly in the petition directly shapes the investigation. Legal characterisation belongs to the prosecutor, so naming the wrong offence causes no loss of rights. Knowingly attributing a crime to someone through a false report may, however, constitute the offence of calumny.