Portsmouth, VA non-emergency police number
This is the agency's main published line from the federal law-enforcement registry (BJS census of state and local law-enforcement agencies). No number labelled “non-emergency” was found on the agency's own site, so treat this as the general business line. See Methodology.
Portsmouth, VA had 97,915 residents at the 2020 Census and is served by the Portsmouth Police Department, within Portsmouth city. Use the number above for anything that is not an emergency; call 911 if anyone is in danger.
When to call 911 instead
Call 911 if any of this is true right now:
- Someone is injured, unconscious, or threatening to hurt somebody.
- A crime is in progress, or the suspect is still nearby.
- There is a fire, a gas smell, or a crash with injuries or blocked traffic.
- You are not sure. A dispatcher would rather triage one unnecessary 911 call than miss a real one.
Use the non-emergency number for things that have already finished and nobody is in danger:
- A theft, burglary, or vandalism discovered after the fact, including when you need a report number for insurance.
- A car blocking a driveway or hydrant, an abandoned vehicle, a parking complaint.
- Noise, a loud party, fireworks, or a barking dog.
- A minor collision with no injuries where the vehicles have been moved.
- Found property, a follow-up on an existing case, or a general question for Portsmouth Police Department.
Non-emergency lines are usually answered by the same communications centre as 911, but at a lower priority — expect to hold, and expect to be asked whether anyone is in danger.
Portsmouth law enforcement agency
Portsmouth, VA 23704
County sheriff — Portsmouth city
If the incident happened outside the city limits, or you need the county jail, civil process, or court security, the sheriff's office handles it.
Official services and forms
Other Portsmouth numbers
311 and 211
311 is for city services rather than policing — potholes, missed collections, street lights, parking, and in some cities non-emergency police reports. Where a city runs a 311 service, the page says so above.
211 is a free nationwide line for health and human services: housing, food, utility assistance, mental health, and crisis support. It is operated by local United Way and partner organisations and is available in most of the country by dialling 211 or through 211.org.
Questions about calling Portsmouth police
What is the non-emergency police number for Portsmouth, VA?
(757) 393-8257 is the main published line for Portsmouth Police Department in the federal law-enforcement registry. Portsmouth Police Department does not publish a separately labelled non-emergency number that we could confirm, so call this line during business hours and ask to be put through.
Can I call this number to report a crime that already happened in Portsmouth?
Yes — that is what it is for. Have the address, the time, a description of what was taken or damaged, and any suspect or vehicle description ready. Ask for the case or report number before you hang up; insurers almost always want it.
Is the Portsmouth non-emergency line answered 24 hours a day?
Most non-emergency lines ring into the same communications centre as 911 and are answered around the clock, but some ring a front desk that closes in the evening. If nobody answers and the matter is genuinely urgent, call 911.
What if the incident was outside Portsmouth city limits?
Unincorporated parts of Portsmouth city are covered by the sheriff's office. See the Portsmouth city page.
Official sources used on this page
This page was last verified against its sources on October 25, 2026. Source URLs are re-requested on a rolling monthly cycle; see Methodology.