Got a Gripe for Police? Click and Complain Online

If your bike is stolen or the neighbor's dog is barking too much, there is now a new way to report the incident to the Bensalem Police Department. 

An online complaint filing system has been recently added to the department's website. According to a press release, the police department "expects this internet based reporting service to be very popular among citizens who have come to expect police services to be provided immediately and conveniently online."

The website lists certain criteria that should be met before filing an online complaint, including the following:

• The incident is not an emergency. If the matter is urgent, dial 911 for immediate assistance.
• The incident is not in progress, does not require immediate attention, and can be investigated at a later time.
• The incident occurred within the Bensalem Police Department City limits.
• There are no known suspects.
• The incident did not occur on Interstate 95, the Pennsylvania turnpike or the gaming floor of Parx Casino. If it did happen in one of those three settings, contact the Pennsylvania State Police.

Currently, only certain incident types may be reported online. They include: 

• Abandoned Vehicle
• Animal Complaint
• Bicycle Theft
• Child Custody Dispute
• Graffiti
• Lost Property
• Traffic Complaint
• Harassment by Communications

The release says that the public will be able to print a temporary copy of the report upon submitting the report.  

The report will be reviewed by police personnel and, once approved, the resident who filed the complaint will receive an email advising the report was approved.  The report will transfer into the Bensalem Township Police Departments Records Management System and receive the same investigation and statistical analysis ability as if the report had been filed by a police officer, according to the release.