(2)the following article is inserted:‘Article 5aReporting of criminal offences1.Member States shall ensure that victims can report criminal offences to the competent authorities through free, accessible, user-friendly, safe, and readily available channels.In addition to reporting criminal offences in person, Member States shall ensure that criminal offences can be reported to the competent authorities by means of free, accessible, secure and user-friendly information and communication technologies at least for non-urgent cases and non-violent criminal offences provided that such reporting is in the best interests of victims.Where a Member State provides for the possibility of reporting criminal offences by means of information and communication technologies, that possibility shall, where feasible, include the submission of evidence.The reporting of criminal offences by means of information and communication technologies shall be without prejudice to national procedural rules regarding formalising of such reporting and of submission of evidence.2.Member States shall take the necessary measures to facilitate reporting by a natural or legal person who knows, or in good faith suspects, that criminal offences have been committed or that acts of violence are expected, to the competent authorities in accordance with national procedural rules.3.For the purpose of facilitating third-party reporting by civil society organisations who are likely to receive information regarding criminal offences, Member States shall take the necessary measures to enable cooperation between competent authorities and such organisations.4.Where a person other than the victim reports a criminal offence, Member States shall ensure that, where necessary and in accordance with national law, the competent authorities take appropriate measures to protect the victim before the offender is informed that an offence has been reported.5.Member States shall ensure that any person who is deprived of liberty or whose liberty is restricted can effectively report a criminal offence that has been committed in the detention or accommodation facilities which that person is not permitted to leave or is not in a position to leave at will or places where that person`s freedom of movement is restricted. Such facilities shall include at least:
6.Where children contact competent authorities to report criminal offences, Member States shall ensure that the reporting procedures are safe, are carried out in a confidential manner in accordance with national law, are designed and accessible in a child-friendly manner and use language appropriate to their age and maturity.Where a criminal offence involves the holder of parental responsibility and there is a conflict of interest between the child victim and the holder of parental responsibility, Member States shall ensure that the ability of the child victim to report the criminal offence is not conditional upon the consent of the holder of parental responsibility. Member States shall ensure that the competent authorities take the necessary measures to protect the safety of the child before they inform the holder of parental responsibility that a criminal offence has been reported.7.Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that victims who are third-country nationals, irrespective of their residence status, are not discouraged from reporting a criminal offence and that they are treated in a non-discriminatory manner. Member States shall in particular ensure that all victims, irrespective of their residence status, are not prevented from exercising their rights under this Directive, including their right to be heard pursuant to Article 10 and the right to have an individual assessment carried out under Article 22.Member States may, in accordance with national law, at any time grant an autonomous residence permit or other authorisation offering a right to stay to a third-country national staying illegally on their territory.8.Member States shall ensure that at the moment a criminal offence is reported, victims are:;
Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, 1998-2026. Reuse authorised under Decision 2011/833/EU.