What is crime?
Committing a crime is very serious. It is also sometimes called 'committing an offence'.
Committing a crime can lead to a caution, court case or in some cases a prison sentence.
It's not always easy to know if something is against the law or not.
If you're unsure whether something is against the law it's a good idea to ask an adult you trust for help.
4 things to remember:
- we're here to help if you've been affected by crime
- if someone is trying to involve you in a crime, think about how that could affect you and others
- once you commit a crime, you can't go back and change things
- if you're feeling guilty and need to talk to someone, ask an adult you trust for help, orspeak to our counsellors.
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What can happen if you're caught committing a crime
The police can stop and search you if they see you and think you might be carrying a weapon or illegal drugs. If the police suspect you of committing a crime and you are over the age of 10 (or 12 in Scotland), they can arrest you. This means you will be taken to a police station and the police will ask you questions about what happened.
Once you've been questioned the police can let you go with a verbal warning, give you a caution, or arrange for you to be charged with a crime.
What happens if you're stopped and searched by the police
Only your outer clothing, pockets and bags can be searched in public. And remember to stay calm and make sure you're not aggressive. If you feel angry, try to calm yourself down with deep breaths.
It's important to remember you have rights. This means you can ask questions so you know what's happening. If you're unsure about things, you could ask a police officer if they're reporting you for an offence and they should give you more information. For more information read the Y.Stop: Stop and search card.
What it means to be charged with a crime
This means a date will be set for you to go to court for a hearing. A judge will decide whether you committed the crime. You can read more about being charged on the gov.uk website.
If the court decides you did commit a crime, this is known as being found guilty and the judge will give a sentence or punishment.
Will I get in trouble if I was just the lookout?
It's impossible to predict what will happen as each situation is different. But if you help other people commit a crime then you are at least partly responsible for what happens. This includes looking out to see if anyone is coming who will see the crime, or hiding stolen things for other people.
People can be charged with crimes they helped out with even if they had a smaller role. This is known as joint enterprise. It means you can be charged with a crime if your actions, presence, or knowledge helped the crime happen. This is one good reason why it's best to tell someone if people are trying to force you to join in with committing a crime.
Owning up
You could consider owning up and doing what you can to put things right. It is up to you whether you own up to the police, a trusted adult or a friend, or the person you have committed the crime against. If you have stolen something, perhaps you could give it back, or write a letter explaining why you did it.
If you're afraid for your own safety if people find out, it's important to tell an adult and not suffer in silence. Our counsellorsare also here for you if you need to talk things through.
Getting a caution
Young people over 10 (or 12 in Scotland) who commit less serious crimes can be given a caution by the police if they admit to committing the offence. This is instead of being arrested and charged. You will have to sign a document which means that you accept the caution. This document also means you admit to the crime.
A caution is more serious than a verbal warning. It's not a criminal conviction, but it will go on your criminal record. The fact you already have a caution could be brought up if you end up going to court for another crime.
Some cautions are 'conditional'. This means you have to stick to certain rules. For example, if you were cautioned for having illegal drugs, you might be asked to attend a drug treatment centre. If you don't stick to these rules, you could be charged with a crime after all.
What happens if you're found guilty of a crime
There are a few types of sentences. If you're discharged, this means the court decided not to punish you. There are also fines, referral orders and prison sentences.
It's impossible to predict what will happen if you own up to the police about a crime or they find out. Every court case is different and we can't tell you exactly what would happen in your situation. Prison sentences are usually only given to people who commit serious crimes or who keep committing crimes again and again.
Getting a referral order
If you are under 17 and admit to being guilty of a crime in court, you could be given a referral order or a youth rehabilitation order. These are types of community sentence. You carry on living at home, but the police will check up on you and agree a set of rules about where you go, how late you are allowed out and how you behave. You may have to do some unpaid work. You might be asked to meet the people your crime affected and apologise to them.
You could also be given a curfew, which means you are not allowed out of your home after a certain time in the evening. You might have to wear an electronic tag so the police can track where you are. Electronic tagging is a form of surveillance which uses GPS technology to see where you are. If you don't stick to the rules you can you can be taken back to court and charged again.
Going to prison
A prison sentence is also known as a custodial sentence or going into custody. In very serious cases, a young person can be locked up, but young people don't go to adult prison. Instead, they are sent to special secure centres for young people. Often these are known as Young Offender Institutions. While you are there, you may have some training and lessons.
What it means to have a criminal record
Having a criminal record means you have either been convicted of a crime in the past or admitted to committing a crime and been given a caution.
Sometimes when you apply for a place at college or university, or for a job, you will be asked to say whether or not you have a criminal record. Having a criminal record can affect the kind of work you are allowed to do as an adult. Being arrested does not give you a criminal record. You have to be on record as guilty of a crime to have one.
Having a criminal record could affect your future plans. Some countries also don't allow people with criminal records to visit.
Talking to the police
If you are a victim of crime, you might find it helpful to read 'The Victim's Code: U18s'. This is a guide for young people who have experienced crime.
In the leaflet you can read about:
- telling the police about a crime
- what support you should get
- going to court
- being a witness
- what can happen after you go to court.
'The Victim's Code: U18s' was put together with the help of different young people, including 153 young people who took part in a Childline survey about being a young victim of crime.
Your questions about reporting crime
Will Childline tell the police?
There are some situations where we will need to involve other people. If we believe your life or someone else's life is in danger, or you are being hurt by someone who has access to other young people, we would need to tell someone about it.
If you tell us you are seriously harming another person, we would also need to do something to protect them, which could include telling the police.
Can I tell the police about a crime without giving my name and details?
Yes. You can do this online using Fearless, the Crimestoppers service for young people. If you prefer to use the phone, you can call Crimestoppers for free on 0800 555 111.
Crimestoppers and Fearless are completely anonymous and they won't trace you. But if you are the victim of a crime rather than a witness, it's best to go straight to the police. Read about situations where Crimestoppers is less suitable.
What can I do if a crime has been committed against me?
No one has the right to hurt you or put you in danger. If someone has committed a crime against you, you should tell someone about it. You might be worried about doing this but it's important to tell someone as soon as possible. You could tell a parent, teacher or religious leader who can help you talk to the police, or you could go straight to the police yourself by phoning 101 (or 999 if you are in immediate danger). If you want to talk things through first, you can contact usand we will support you.
Everyone reacts differently to experiencing a crime. You might feel angry, or frightened straight afterwards, or you might feel numb and like it hasn't really sunk in yet. Many people find their feelings change over time. Experiencing anxiety is common. There is no right or wrong way to feel.
Speaking to the police or having to go to court can be really scary. It's natural for anyone to feel worried or nervous about doing this, no matter how old they are.
If someone I know is breaking the law
If you know someone who is deliberately breaking the law, it's best to tell someone about it. If the person who is breaking the law is a good friend and it is safe for you to do so, you could ask them why they are doing it. They might not realise that what they are doing is against the law. Or they might be feeling guilty or unhappy about it.
If it doesn't feel safe to talk to them and you don't feel like you can talk to a parent or teacher about what's happening, you can contact a counsellor. They can talk you through the different options you might have.
Witnessing a crime
Witnessing a crime can be very stressful. You might feel confused and unsure what to do. It can be even more confusing if you know the person who committed the crime, or they are part of your family. You might not want to get anybody into trouble, or you might be afraid for your own safety if you tell someone.
If you tell someone about it, you might still feel shaken, angry, shocked, frightened or anxious about what you've seen, or like you can't stop thinking about it.
It's important that you take care of yourself and get support in a situation like this. If you have told the police already, it might be a good idea to mention your feelings to them, or an adult you trust. If the crime was serious, your description of what you saw could help the victim get justice. Seeing a crime sometimes means you have to go to a court hearing so they can hear you describe what you saw. Find out more about going to court.
Contacting a counsellor could also help you work out what you might want to say to the police and talk you through your options for getting help.
Staying safe from crime
Here are some basic ways to take care of your safety when you're out and about:
- Avoid showing off valuable things like you mobile phone in the street
- Try not to travel alone. Try to take friends with you if you're going somewhere, especially after dark
- Arrange how you will get home if you go out after dark
- If you use a cab, make sure it's a registered cab from a company you trust
- Make sure your bag is properly closed and keep it close to your body
- Be aware of your surroundings and avoid shortcuts down badly-lit streets
- Register your devices like your mobile phone or mp3 player if you carry them around with you
- Never carry a knife or any other weapon. This is a crime, even if you don't use it. See gun and knife crime for more information.
Getting more support after a crime
You might find it helpful to read more about how Victim Support help young people who experience crime.
You could also think about going to your doctor for some support with coping, especially if you find yourself having panic symptoms.
Moving on
It might help to think about the positive things in your life. How do you want your future to be? You could write down some ideas and then think about ways to make it happen.
You might want to think about how to turn the situation into a learning experience. How could you use your guilt to make sure this doesn't happen again? Maybe you could do something kind that makes you feel like you're moving forward with your life.
You could also think about ways to help yourself avoid getting into a situation like this again. Are there places you go, things you do, or people you hang out with that might make it more likely to happen again? Maybe there are some changes you could make. Check out our tips for making new friends.
I feel really guilty about the crime I committed and I don't know what to do
You might find it hard to concentrate on school or have problems sleeping. It's important to take care of yourself and try to manage the anxiety. If you're feeling guilty, it means you care about doing the right thing.
My family are angry because I keep getting into trouble with the police
Getting into trouble with the law can make things very difficult for families. You might feel that you have disappointed your parents or carers. Try to talk with them calmly and listen to what they have to say. This will make them more likely to listen to you too.
Remember that our counsellors are always herefor you if you need to talk about how you're feeling. You can even practise what you want to say to your family with a counsellor.
For more advice and support visit Family Lives.
Other helpful sites:
You & Co helps to cope with the effects of crime and has advice about what happens in a courtroom
Crimestoppers is where you can report crime anonymously on 0800 555 111
SAFE has facts and advice about gangs, theft, dangerous dogs, drugs, graffiti, extremism and safety
Young witnesses (Victim Support) has more info and help for witnesses of crime
LawStuff has info about rights, the law, police, safety and getting help.