Get a police-report receipt and a written decision if a criminal case is not opened

Free. Ask for the receipt when reporting, note its date and case number, and follow the relevant deadlines. Repeatedly asking for progress can take persistence.

Article 171 of the criminal-case procedures, as amended by Ministry of Public Security Order 159, requires an acceptance register and receipt for a person delivering a suspect, reporting, complaining, or providing information. Article 174 requires prompt examination of accepted matters and discovered crime leads. Under Article 178, a criminal case is opened with county-level or higher approval when there are criminal facts requiring prosecution within the agency’s jurisdiction. If a complainant’s case is not opened, a written notice must be served within three days. Article 179 allows reconsideration with the deciding police agency within seven days of receipt; that agency normally has 30 days to decide. A further application to the next higher police agency is due within seven days of receiving the reconsideration decision, with another 30-day decision period. A higher-level reversal must be implemented. For major, complex cases, reconsideration or review may be extended by no more than 30 days, with written notice. Criminal Procedure Law Article 112 requires filing where criminal facts warrant prosecution and reasons when filing is refused. Under Article 113, a procuratorate receiving a victim’s complaint can require police to explain non-filing; if the reasons do not stand, it must notify police to open the case, and police must comply. Administrative-case procedures, Article 61, also require an acceptance register and receipt for matters within jurisdiction. Public-security cases normally conclude within 30 days of acceptance, extendable by 30 days with higher-level approval for major or complex matters; expert-assessment time is excluded. Police Supervision Regulations Article 9 requires prompt response to complaints about ongoing police illegality or disciplinary misconduct, handling at the scene where appropriate, and timely feedback.

A report does not guarantee the outcome you want, but the process and deadlines are specified. First get the receipt and record the agency and case number. Next, ask which procedural stage the matter has reached when a deadline passes. If non-filing is notified, read the reason and track the seven-day reconsideration and subsequent seven-day review windows. Procuratorial supervision can be pursued alongside those routes. For public-security matters such as minor theft or fights, the basic 30-day period, possible 30-day extension, and exclusion of assessment time matter. Complaints about police conduct go to supervision channels while the case itself follows its filing process. Lost property and some neighborhood disputes are not criminal cases and may be handled administratively, by mediation, or simply recorded. For fraud, seek a payment stop immediately. For online abuse, see evidence and available routes.

National People’s Congress (2018). Criminal Procedure Law, Articles 112 and 113. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f135f46016f1d1b81b01351; Ministry of Public Security (2020). Amendment and consolidated criminal-case procedures, Order 159. http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2020/content_5549884.htm; Ministry of Public Security (2013/2019 amendments). Administrative-case procedures, Order 125 and amendment Order 149. http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2013/content_2321117.htm, http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-12/31/content_5428593.htm; State Council (2011). Police Supervision Regulations, Order 603, Article 9. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2011-09/08/content_6138.htm.