Reporting a crime when you don't speak Spanish well

Key rules

• Interpreter: Ask for a free interpreter as soon as you arrive; do not wait until you are asked to sign.
• Your language: You can file the denuncia in your own language and get a receipt you understand.
• Signing: Do not sign anything you have not understood; ask for it to be explained first.
• SATE: SATE offices are mainly for tourists in tourist areas; residents normally use the ordinary desk.

Your right to an interpreter

If you do not understand Spanish, you have the right to a free interpreter when you report. You can also file your denuncia (the police report) in your own language. You are entitled to a receipt or written acknowledgement of your complaint in a language you understand, and to a translation of the essential information about it.

Say at the start that you need an interpreter. Do not wait until you are asked to sign.

What to expect at the station

Stations usually use a telephone interpreting service or a bilingual officer. Quality and speed vary from station to station. A full written translation may arrive later, so ask what you will receive on the day.

Do not sign anything you have not understood. Ask the officer to explain it again, through the interpreter. Signing a statement you misread can make it hard to correct later.

SATE offices for tourists

SATE is a Policía Nacional service for foreign tourists. Its offices help you file a denuncia with interpreters. They then help with cancelling cards, contacting your consulate or insurer, and replacing documents.

Offices are in major tourist areas, such as Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga/Torremolinos, Benidorm, Palma, Ibiza, Marbella, Sevilla and the Canary Islands. They are usually in or near police stations or tourist zones. Many open longer hours in summer. Locations and hours change, so check the current list from the Policía Nacional before you go.

If you live in Spain

SATE is designed for visitors. If you are a resident, you will normally be directed to the ordinary denuncia desk at the station. Your interpreter rights still apply there. Local practice differs, so ask the station what help is available.

Prepare before you go

Write a short account in Spanish or in your language: what happened, when, where, and what was taken or damaged. Bring photo ID. The phrases and short written account below can help. The checklist and documents below show what to ask for and what to keep.

Documents you need

• The receipt or written acknowledgement of your denuncia, in a language you understand. The police give you this when you report, and a written translation may follow later.

• A translation of the essential information about your complaint, which you can ask the police to provide if the receipt is only in Spanish.

Checklist

• Tell the officer at the start that you need an interpreter.

• Ask to file the denuncia in your own language.

• Ask for the receipt or written acknowledgement in a language you understand.

• Ask the officer to explain anything you do not understand before you sign.

• Check the current list of SATE offices if you are a tourist, and go to one in a tourist area if you can.

Phrases and a short written account for reporting in Spanish

How to use this sheet

Show the Spanish lines to the officer, or read them out. Fill in the blanks before you go, in plain words. Describe what happened and what was used or said. The police decide the legal label, so you do not need to choose between the words below.

Asking for help in your language

• No hablo español. Necesito un intérprete, por favor. (I do not speak Spanish. I need an interpreter, please.)
• Tengo derecho a un intérprete gratuito. (I have the right to a free interpreter.)
• Quiero presentar una denuncia. (I want to report a crime.)
• ¿Puede darme una copia de la denuncia? (Can you give me a copy of the report?)
• Necesito la copia en un idioma que entienda. (I need the copy in a language I understand.)
• ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? (Can you speak more slowly, please?)
• No entiendo. ¿Puede repetirlo? (I do not understand. Can you repeat it?)

Stations often use a phone interpreter or bilingual staff, and a written translation may arrive later. Ask for the interpreter before you start giving your account.

Words for what happened

• Hurto: theft without force or threat, such as pickpocketing or a bag taken while you were not looking. Me han robado la cartera sin que me diera cuenta. (My wallet was taken without me noticing.)
• Robo: theft using force on things (a broken lock or window) or force or threats against a person. Han forzado la puerta. (They forced the door.)
• Robo con violencia o intimidación: theft where you were hurt or threatened. Me amenazaron. (They threatened me.)
• Tirón: a snatch-and-run, usually a bag or phone pulled from you. Me han dado un tirón del bolso. (Someone snatched my bag.) Say how much force was used, for example if you were pulled or fell.

Useful extra words:

• denuncia: the police report
• denunciante: the person reporting (you)
• autor / sospechoso: the person who did it / a suspect
• testigo: witness
• lesiones: injuries
• objetos sustraídos: items taken
• pasaporte, cartera, móvil, tarjeta bancaria: passport, wallet, phone, bank card

Short written account to hand over

Copy this, fill in the blanks and print it or keep it on your phone.

Denuncia: relato de los hechos (Report: account of events)

Nombre y apellidos: ______________________ Pasaporte / NIE: ______________________ Teléfono y correo electrónico: ______________________ Idioma que hablo: ______________________

1. Fecha y hora aproximada: El ____ de ____________ de 20__, sobre las ____ h. (Date and approximate time)
2. Lugar: ______________________ (calle, ciudad, local, transporte) (Place: street, city, shop, transport)
3. Qué pasó: Estaba ______________________ cuando ______________________. (What happened: I was ___ when ___.)
4. Cómo ocurrió:
   • ☐ No me di cuenta de nada. (I noticed nothing.)
   • ☐ Forzaron una puerta, ventana o cerradura. (They forced a door, window or lock.)
   • ☐ Me dieron un tirón. (They snatched it from me.)
   • ☐ Me amenazaron o me agredieron. (They threatened or attacked me.)
5. Objetos sustraídos: ______________________ (valor aproximado: ______ €) (Items taken, with approximate value)
6. Descripción de la persona o personas: ______________________ (Description of the person or people: height, clothes, age, anything distinctive)
7. Testigos o cámaras cercanas: ______________________ (Witnesses or nearby cameras)
8. Lesiones: ☐ No ☐ Sí: ______________________ (Injuries)

Solicito una copia de la denuncia y, si es posible, su traducción a ______________________. (I request a copy of the report and, if possible, a translation into ___.)

Firma: ______________________

Before you hand it over

• Write only what you know. If you are unsure of a time or a value, write "aproximadamente" (approximately).
• Check the officer's written version against your account before you sign. With the interpreter's help, ask for corrections if something is wrong.
• Keep your copy of the report. Banks, insurers and embassies usually ask for it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I file my denuncia in my own language?

Yes, you can file the denuncia in your own language, and the police should bring in an interpreter or bilingual staff to help. Stations often use a telephone interpreter. A written translation of your paperwork may arrive later.

What does a SATE office do after I report?

A SATE office helps you with the steps after the report, such as cancelling cards, contacting your consulate or insurer and replacing documents. SATE is a Policía Nacional service for foreign tourists.

Can I use SATE if I live in Spain?

SATE is designed for tourists and visitors, so residents are usually sent to the ordinary denuncia desk. You are not formally barred from reporting at the same station. Ask the station what support it can give you, and ask for an interpreter there.