How to contact the police in Luxembourg

Police presence in Luxembourg is quite common. This is not surprising given the rather small size of the country. The Grand Duchy has a total of 55 police stations in 4 major police regions.

Police stations are scattered throughout the country, but in the southern part of the country the density is slightly higher due to the clustering of cities. The police will respond to you depending on the urgency of your enquiry, but for best results it is better to make an appointment in advance.

If the station has already closed or there are no officers on site, you can try to find a patrol officer or contact the officers on the emergency number. The emergency number in Luxembourg is 113.

When contacting the police, it is as important as possible to give as much information as possible. This will not only help them to respond more quickly to the call, but also to resolve the situation as efficiently as possible.

In an emergency

If you used the 113 number, be prepared to provide the most important information:

• Your personal details, such as your surname and first name;
• As detailed but structured and clear a description of the incident and location as possible;
• A description of the people involved in the incident, if any.

Example

One sample of an emergency call to the police might look like this (remember that the operator will probably ask you to identify yourself anyway):

Hello, my name's Ivan Ivanov. There's an armed robbery in progress on the Adolf Bridge right now. A man, about 35 years old, with a gun, has blocked traffic and is collecting valuables from nearby cars!

Your location is almost always transmitted to the dispatcher, but the dispatcher can clarify where you are if the GPS data does not match your address. For example, if you report an accident in Kirchberg, but the geolocation shows you in Merl.

Do not hang up under any circumstances. The operator may ask many more follow-up questions, even if the matter is urgent. This can only mean one thing: a police team is probably on its way and the remote service is gathering as much information as possible for further investigation.

In a normal situation.

If you go to the police for a routine case or are invited to testify as a witness, the police will inform you in advance about what documents and information you may need. In 100 per cent of cases, this is an identity card; additional documents depend on the specific situation. For example, if you are reporting a theft, you will need your driving licence and car documents.

A non-resident may use his/her valid passport with a current visa as proof of identity.

Even though the country is well covered, the police are neither omnipotent nor omnipresent. Almost always, if it is not a question of catching red-handed or direct interdiction, the police work after the fact.

This means that the police need outside help to restore justice and find the perpetrators. Witnesses and concerned citizens become such help.

You can help the police officers in the following ways:

• Act as a witness. If you have seen a crime or have reliable and valuable information, report it to law enforcement.
• Help with the search for missing persons.
• Let us know if you've seen any particularly wanted criminals.
• Pass on found items and lost jewellery.

Nowadays there are many crimes that are taboo in society. The list is long and includes domestic violence, rape, blackmail and many other crimes. Often the victim is intimidated, forced to hide and keep silent, and indulge their oppressors.

The Luxembourg police are calling on all those who have experienced such behaviour not to remain silent and to seek help. Crimes must be solved and the perpetrators must receive their just punishment. Victims are entitled to protection and psychological support.