First Information Report

This article is about a written document prepared by police organizations in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. For other uses, see FIR (disambiguation).

A First Information Report (FIR) is a written document prepared by police organizations in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan when they receive about the commission of a cognizable offence. It is generally a complaint lodged with the police by the victim of a cognizable offense or by someone on his or her behalf, but anyone can make such a report either orally or in writing to the police.

For a non cognizable offense a Community Service Register is created & registered.

FIR is an important document because it sets the process of criminal justice in motion. It is only after the FIR is registered in the police station that the police take up investigation of the case. Anyone who knows about the commission of a cognizable offence, including police officers, can file an FIR.

As described in law,

• When information about the commission of a cognizable offence is given orally, the police must write it down.
• The person giving information or making a complaint has a right to demand that the information recorded by the police be read to him or her.
• Once the information has been recorded by the police, it must be signed by the person giving the information.

In India

In India, after an FIR has been filed the contents of the FIR cannot be changed except by a ruling from the High Court or the Supreme Court of India.

External links

• Complete information about what an FIR is, who can file it, rights of people, etc. (PDF format)
• Procedure of filing an FIR in India