File a Report
If this is a crime in progress or life-threatening emergency, call 911
We take online reports for things that are NOT emergencies.
Some incidents require a police officer to be dispatched to take a report in person. Other reports can be taken by an agent in our Police Reporting Unit over the phone.
Our Police Reporting Unit can be reached at 613-236-1222, extension 7300, seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.
To learn how you can report a motor vehicle collision, please visit our Collision Reporting page.
If you have an email address and internet access and wish to report something that can be reported online, you will be redirected to the online reporting tool. This frees up our police reporting agents to assist other callers who cannot report online.
On this page:
- Cybertip.ca – Canada's tip line to report online sexual exploitation
- Find out what happens after you submit a report
- Report a collision
- Types of reports you can make online
- Things you cannot report online
Filing a false report is a criminal offence.
To make an anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at crimestoppers.ca or 1-800-222-8477.
- Adding information to an existing report
- Drug complaint
- Fraud only if you have lost money (visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for more information)
- Hate-motivated incident
- Lost property (with a visible serial number or distinct marking such as a custom engraving)
- Mischief or damage to property
- Theft (excluding theft of passports)
- Theft from a vehicle
- Traffic complaint
Collision Reporting Centres
We cannot take collision reports online due to the complexity of the information gathered and verified. Find out more about how to report a collision and our Collision Reporting Centres.
Report a stolen vehicle or licence plate
Stolen vehicles or licence plates must be reported immediately so they can be entered into the Canadian Police Information Centre database as soon as possible. Please contact the Police Reporting Unit at 613-236-1222, extension 7300.
Cybertip
Cybertip.ca is Canada's tip line to report the online sexual exploitation of children. To report something or for more information, please visit cybertip.ca.
You CANNOT file a report online if...
- A threat was made, or violence was used during the incident. If you are in immediate danger, please dial 911. If you are no longer in danger, please call us at 613-236-1222, extension 7300.
- Evidence was left on the scene, such as but not limited to blood, tools, clothes, or any item related to the incident. Please call 613-236-1222.
- The incident did not happen in Ottawa. Please contact the police service in the place where the incident happened.
- The stolen property is a passport. Stolen Canadian passports must be reported stolen to Passport Canada. Stolen Foreign passports must be reported in person at a police station.
- The property lost is a cell phone, licence plate, bank card or government-issued identification, with or without a serial number. Please contact your service provider to get a replacement.
Filing a false report is a criminal offence.
After you submit a police report
Once you submit the report, you will receive a temporary reference number. After your report has been reviewed by an online agent, you will receive an official police report number. Our goal is to acknowledge online reports within 48 hours.
All information is valuable, but you may not hear from us. Here's why…
Due to the volume of reports received, you may not be contacted (e.g. a traffic complaint).
All the information you submit is captured and analyzed so resources can be allocated appropriately.
If additional information or clarification is needed, someone will contact you.
If you are a victim or survivor of crime and wish to receive support, please contact Ottawa Victim Services at 613-238-2762.