How the police can help

In cases of acute danger, the police can offer protection and assistance. It is the police's job to end violence, protect victims from violence, and investigate crimes. The police can be reached by calling 110 or by calling the local police station. They are obligated to respond immediately in cases of danger.

In cases of domestic violence, the police in most federal states have the power to expel perpetrators from their homes for up to two weeks and prohibit them from returning. These expulsions or evictions are regulated by the respective police laws.

In addition, the police can take further protective measures. For example, they can issue bans on entering places such as the woman's daycare center or workplace. The police can also take violent offenders into custody. The applicable regulations are set out in the police laws and the police guidelines of the individual states. These protective measures can also be ordered if women and children file a police report with the police station.

In cases of criminal offenses such as assault, coercion, rape, or deprivation of liberty, the police must investigate. Those affected can also file a report with any police station. The police forward the results of the investigation to the district attorney's office or public prosecutor's office, which decides whether to file charges.

Filing a report on your own initiative can help draw public authorities' attention to the violence. However, there is no obligation to report it.

For most crimes, the police and public prosecutors are obligated to investigate on their own initiative as soon as they become aware of them—for example, during a police operation. In cases of so-called "complaint offenses," further prosecution depends on whether you file a complaint yourself.

The best way to preserve evidence is through photos of injuries, medical certificates, or anonymous forensic evidence collection (ASS). Anonymous forensic evidence collection is a medical examination that can be conducted confidentially and free of charge after a sexual offense at the victim's request. The evidence of the crime is documented and preserved. Important: You do not have to file a report for this!

In some places in Germany, so-called violence protection clinics offer confidential forensic assessments and documentation of cases of intimate partner violence and sexual violence. This documentation is independent of a police report and is usually free of charge. It can be retained for years and used in both criminal proceedings and in violence protection or family court proceedings.