Reporting to authorities

Reporting to the police

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If you decide to report to the police, you can either call 101 or go to a police station in person. In an emergency, always dial 999.

1When you make your report, depending on what happened and when, the police may need to gather physical evidence.

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Speak to an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) at EQUISS for up-to-date advice on what you may need to do to maintain evidence if you are reporting soon after experiencing a crime. Our team can support you at every stage of reporting to the police, if you decide to do so.

If the police decide there is not enough evidence or it is not “in the public interest”, then the case will not go any further and “No Further Action” will be taken by the police. This information should be given to you in person and the reasons for the decision should be shared in writing.

Confidential support line is available Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30. Request a time to talk by contacting our team here.

2When you make your report, the police will take an initial account straight away to begin investigating the crime.

3After this, you’ll give your official statement that will involve greater detail – it is usually recorded on video that can be used in court. When you give your official statement, you can request to speak to male or female police officers, and to have someone attend with you.

4The police will then investigate your report, looking at evidence, speaking to any witnesses and potentially arresting the perpetrator. They will assess if there is enough evidence to send the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

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If the police decide to move forward with the case, it is sent to the CPS who then make their own decision on the public interest and evidence base. At this point either the alleged perpetrator will be charged, and must appear in court, or the case can be closed with “no further action".

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Throughout this process, you can withdraw your support at any point if it stops feeling like the right decision for you. This means you would no longer be involved in the case. While it often means that the case is stopped, it is possible for the police/CPS to choose to go forward with a “victimless prosecution” based on the evidence gathered and the strength of the public interest benefit of the case. This is rare but does happen.

What is “no further action” (NFA)?

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If a case is closed with “no further action” (NFA), that does not mean that the alleged perpetrator has been found innocent, or that you have not been believed.

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It means that the evidence was deemed insufficient to take the case to court, and as a result the alleged perpetrator will not get a criminal conviction. It also does not mean that our support for you will stop – we are here for you whether you report to the police or not, and whatever the outcome of your case.

Choosing not to report

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Reporting to authorities can be overwhelming and will not be the right path for everyone. We will never pressure you to report your experiences.

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If you report a situation where a child or vulnerable person is in immediate danger, our safeguarding team may be required to share information with relevant authorities as part of their statutory duties.

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If you don’t feel ready to report

Sometimes, victim–survivors don’t feel ready to report their experiences right away. Some people never choose to report, and others know they might want to in the future. This is normal and understandable.

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Support is still available if you choose not to report.

Our trustworthy team can help you understand your options, talk through what feels right for you, and help you to access support at your pace.

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You can talk to us about a situation that is happening currently, or that has happened anytime in the past. We take your experience seriously and recognise the courage it takes to speak up.

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Find out more

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You can report a crime that happened in the past

For some crimes, such as sexual offences, it is important to gather evidence early. Forensic medical examinations are used by police as evidence in sexual violence investigations. These examinations usually take place at a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), which are usually NHS services.

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You can go to a SARC without speaking to the police and they can collect and store forensic evidence. This means that if you do choose to report to the police in the future, they will be able to use this evidence. SARCs also provide medical care for any injuries and free pregnancy and STI tests.

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This Rape Crisis UK webpage explains the process of forensic medical examinations.

When your concerns involve a national governing body

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We provide support for all concerns relating to harm, abuse and misconduct, even if these involve national governing bodies (NGBs), their officials or anyone in a position of influence.

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As an independent organisation, we're free from conflicts of interest or bias. This means we can focus solely on your wellbeing, ensure your concerns are heard and stand beside you throughout the process as your independent advocate.

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Why come to EQUISS first?

Many people find it intimidating to report concerns directly to a governing body, particularly where senior individuals or decision-makers are involved.

As an independent organisation, we provide a safe, confidential place to talk through what has happened, understand your options and decide what happens next. Our only priority is supporting you and helping ensure your concerns are taken seriously.

With your permission, we'll contact the relevant national governing body on your behalf, manage communication throughout the process and keep you informed every step of the way.

This means you don't have to repeatedly explain your experience, chase for updates or navigate the process alone. Where appropriate, we'll advocate for you to help ensure your concerns are heard.
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Take the first step. Contact our team to discuss the support available to you.

Reporting overseas

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You can report incidents or concerns to EQUISS even if they happened overseas. If you would like to report to an authority, you will need to report to authorities with jurisdiction of the place where the crime or incident took place.

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If it happened at an FEI event, you can make a secure report to the FEI Reporting Hub.

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We can also support you through this process if you prefer.

Report something that happened overseas.

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Reporting animal abuse

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If you witness abuse against a horse, report it to World Horse Welfare.

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To make a report to World Horse Welfare, you must have the following information:

• The precise location of the situation you’re concerned about (ideally using what3words)
• The specific issues that are causing concern
• A description of each horse at the location
• When you last saw the horse/s – if you haven’t seen this situation in person, please ask someone with first-hand information to get in touch with us themselves  

To make a report, you must be at least 18 years of age and have seen the situation yourself in real life.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a horse at an FEI event, you can report it to an FEI Steward or through the FEI Reporting Hub.

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If you are being instructed to abuse an animal on behalf of your employer, you can report this to EQUISS.

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Learn more about employer instructed abuse.

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Whistleblowing

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If you’re concerned about wrongful activity by a private or public equestrian organisation, you can report it anonymously to EQUISS.

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This could be information about illegal, immoral, illicit, unsafe, unethical or fraudulent activity by an organisation.

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Report an anonymous concern to EQUISS.

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