Web police

If you need an immediate police response, call 112.

When should you contact a Virtual Community Policing Officer?

A Virtual Community Policing Officer can help you with incidents and concerns related to the internet and social media.

Our Virtual Community Policing Officers provide advice, support and guidance, helping you assess when and how to take further action.

Contact a Virtual Community Policing Officer if you:

need advice from the police
have questions about legal matters that fall within the police’s jurisdiction
wish to submit a tip or report to the police
suspect that someone is impersonating you online
have experienced online harassment or bullying (see the explanation below)
are under 18 and have experienced cyberbullying
wish to report sexual or other abuse.

If you have questions about legal matters that fall within the police’s jurisdiction

A Virtual Community Policing Officer can advise you on legal matters related to the work and responsibilities of the police. The police cannot resolve all legal disputes, including civil cases. However, we can help you understand what options are available and what steps to take next.

If necessary, we will refer you to the appropriate service or organisation for further assistance.

If you would like to submit a tip

Virtual Community Policing Officers receive tips related to the internet and social media. Where appropriate, the information will be forwarded for further action.

The more detailed the information you provide, the easier it is to assess what has happened.

If possible, please include:

links or screenshots
usernames or account details
a description of when and how the incident occurred

You can also submit a tip to the police’s general email address: ...

If you would like to report:

a suspicious text message or phone call;
a scam or attempted scam;
a fraudulent website or a phishing attempt;
a scam advertisement or investment fraud,
please send the information directly to: ...

If you have experienced online harassment

A Virtual Community Policing Officer can advise you and help you understand what options are available to protect your rights.

Conflicts that take place online can have a significant impact on people’s lives, even when the police are not able to intervene on legal grounds. For example, insults, defamation and other online conflicts between adults often fall within the scope of civil law.

In such cases, a Virtual Community Policing Officer can help you:

assess the seriousness of the situation
understand what options are available to protect yourself
identify the most appropriate next step or source of support

If you are under 18 and have experienced cyberbullying

When the person affected is under 18, the police may be able to provide more support and take a more active role where necessary.

Depending on the circumstances, we may:

speak with those involved
carry out preventive work in schools or with the relevant support network
help reduce further harm and the risk of the conflict escalating

Seeking help is important so that a young person does not have to face the problem alone or cope with the situation without support.

Implementing the Digital Services Act (DSA): removal of illegal and/or harmful content

The Digital Services Act (DSA) is a European Union regulation aimed at making the online environment safer and better protecting users’ rights.

The PBGB’s Virtual Community Policing Officers responsible for DSA matters can assist with cases involving:

illegal or harmful content
fraudulent advertisements and scam campaigns
misuse of social media accounts
issues regarding Meta account recovery

Contact a Virtual Community Policing Officer responsible for DSA matters at ... if you need assistance with:

removing illegal or harmful content
reporting fraudulent advertisements or scam campaigns
recovering a Facebook, Instagram or other social media account
reporting fake accounts or the misuse of social media accounts

Please note: A Virtual Community Policing Officer does not have the authority or technical ability to remove illegal content directly. Requests for the removal of content are always submitted to the service provider.

When submitting a report, please include the following, if possible:

links or screenshots
for videos, the exact timestamp at which the violation occurs
account details
a description of when and how the issue arose
information on whether you have already contacted the platform

To recover your Meta account, please provide:

a link to your Facebook or Instagram account
the email address you used to sign in to your account
a new email address that is not associated with any Meta service (Facebook, Instagram or Messenger)
a photo of the front of your ID-card

Based on this information, a Virtual Community Policing Officer will contact Meta on your behalf. Instructions for recovering your account will then be sent to your new email address.