Checklist: what to check before filing a police report

Check whether the reported facts constitute offences prosecuted upon private complaint: if so, remember that a police report aims at dispute resolution and does not contain a formal request for punishment, which is exclusive to a querela.

Ensure that no false facts or unsupported accusations are reported. Knowingly attributing a crime to an innocent person exposes the reporting party to criminal liability under Article 368 of the Italian Penal Code.

Verify that the report is aimed at the resolution of private disputes pursuant to Art. 1 TULPS. References to Articles 408 and 410 c.p.p. are exclusive to formal complaints and querela.

Ensure that the report provides precise time and space coordinates for every event described. A generic narrative prevents the Public Security Authority from carrying out the checks required by Article 1 of TULPS.

Verify the completeness of personal data and the compliance of self-declarations with D.P.R. 445/2000. Identification errors may delay the administrative process or invalidate the attached documentation.

Confirm that the report is correctly addressed to the competent Public Security Authority under Article 1 of TULPS. Incorrect addressing requires inter-office transmission, delaying the requested intervention.

Verify every document mentioned in the narrative and ensure it is attached to the report. The lack of documentary evidence reduces the merit of the requests submitted to the authority.

Verify that the report includes the place, date, and handwritten or digital signature of the reporting party. The absence of a signature causes the report to be treated as anonymous, with the usability limitations set out in Art. 333 c.p.p.