Legal Advice: Reporting crimes Thursday, 28 April 2011 00:48

Reporting crimes to police and offering the needed help to the police is the duty of all citizens. Crimes jeopardise the security of the society. By stipulating penalties, the Penal Code seeks to achieve the following two goals:

First, to give criminals the punishment they deserve so that an example is made of them. This can deter others from committing the same crimes. This is the right of society.

Second, to give crime victims some sort of compensation for the harm done them. This is the right of individuals. The nipping of crimes in the bud is even more important. Preventing crimes helps society avoid their repercussions. The success of policemen is measured by their ability to stop criminals and prevent crimes before taking place. That is why legislators specify penalties for those who attempt to commit crimes.

Legislators encourage citizens to report crimes as soon as they get information about them so that policemen can abort them and stop criminals from going ahead with their plans.

Law No. 11/2004 stipulates that whoever gets information about crimes before they happen has to inform the authorities concerned immediately.

If the person (s) referred to in this article refrains from informing the authorities about crimes for unacceptable reason (s), he/she will be sentenced to jail for a period of up to three years and fined up to 10,000 Qatari riyals or receive one of these two penalties.

This article is not applicable to criminals’ relatives to the first degree. The same law stipulates that whoever refuses to help somebody whose life, money, or body is in danger will be jailed for up to three years and fined up to 10,000 Qatari riyals.