You should reopen or escalate a police report immediately if any of the following apply:

---

1️⃣ If strangulation occurred

Even once, even without injury, even years ago.

Why:
Strangulation is now legally recognised as:

⚠️ A near-lethal assault and major homicide predictor

If this was not properly recorded or charged, reopening is strongly advised.

---

2️⃣ If violence continued in another country

This creates a cross-border pattern of abuse.

Why:
European law allows:

• Linking crimes across borders
• Escalation to aggravated violent offending
• International evidence sharing

This significantly strengthens legal action.

---

3️⃣ If stalking started after the assault

Strangulation + stalking = highest risk category

Why:
This combination places a case in:

🔴 Extreme homicide risk classification

Police treat this as serious imminent threat behaviour.

---

4️⃣ If the original case was:

• downgraded
• minimised
• treated as “just an argument”
• closed without investigation
• logged as simple assault

Why:
Many older cases were misclassified before strangulation laws were strengthened.

These can and should be upgraded.

---

5️⃣ If new evidence exists

This includes:

• medical symptoms later
• PTSD diagnosis
• witness statements
• messages, emails, threats
• stalking behaviour
• GPS tracking, monitoring
• repeated unwanted contact

---

6️⃣ If the offender has:

• reappeared
• made contact
• escalated threats
• tried to locate you
• approached people you know

This immediately triggers escalation protocols.

---

⚖️ Legal Reason Reopening Works

Reopening allows police to apply:

Pattern of coercive control doctrine

Meaning:

• All incidents become one continuous crime
• Sentencing becomes far more severe
• Protective measures become far stronger

---

🛑 What Police Can Do When a Case Is Reopened

• Upgrade charges
• Add attempted homicide classification
• Add stalking charges
• Issue cross-border protection orders
• Apply for European Investigation Orders
• Activate international police cooperation

---

🧠 Risk-Based Recommendation

If a case includes:

Strangulation + stalking + cross-border pursuit

Then reopening is strongly advised for safety reasons, not just legal ones.

---