Making a police report for domestic abuse — why it matters in family court

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-29

The report creates the record courts look for

Family courts, CAFCASS, and legal-aid assessors all rely on police records as evidence. A police report creates the contemporaneous, official record that supports:

Fact-finding findings in family court
FL401 protective order applications
The legal aid abuse evidence gateway
Child arrangements decisions (safety is a welfare-checklist factor)
Claire's Law disclosures

How to report

999 — if in immediate danger (they will attend)
101 — for non-emergency reporting (online reporting also available at most forces)
Go to a police station in person if you prefer
Ask for a crime reference number every time — this is your key evidence

What to include

What happened (be specific: dates, places, what was said/done)
Whether the child was present or nearby
Any injuries (photograph with a timestamp)
Any witnesses
Whether it has happened before
Whether you have a court order

If the police say it's a "civil matter"

Domestic abuse is a criminal matter — insist on a report being taken
If they refuse, ask to speak to a supervisor
You can also report online via your local force's website
Keep your own log regardless — your contemporaneous notes are still evidence

If the police don't act

Ask for a supervisor
Contact the Police and Crime Commissioner for your force
Contact Refuge 0808 2000 247 for advocacy support (they have police liaison workers)
A non-molestation order from the family court gives the police clear powers to arrest
Breach of a non-molestation order is a criminal offence — police must act on it

Even if they don't charge

A police report that doesn't lead to a charge is still evidence:

It shows the court you reported contemporaneously
It appears in CAFCASS safeguarding checks (after C100)
It supports the legal aid abuse gateway (police records are qualifying evidence)
It creates a pattern when combined with other reports

Official links

Report domestic abuse: https://www.gov.uk/report-domestic-abuse
https://www.police.uk

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with the police or gov.uk.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.