1

they should have issued a police report right away that you filed it as stolen. they must have confused it with the report that is issued after investigation which is entirely different thing. be persistent - call or if you used a guide or an agency there have them pester those police. since the police have nothing to loose (or gain for that matter hopefully) form this they will issue a report eventually.

2

An initial report was made- I filled in some paperwork and they assigned it a case number but told me that copies weren't given at this stage. I'll just have to annoy them as much as possible!

3

If you know a Nepali, go along with him or her to the police - this will make it far easier. Nepali culture is very different from "western" culture, and getting aggressive etc (not that I am assumeing that the OP will do that, but it is quite common amongst visitors), will be very counter productive.

The police could be hoping for a "consideration"...

4

Consideration = they have run out of tea...

Just to make this more clear...

5

I have to agree that they have ran out of tea and milk, they will need to replenish the stock. I have heard this from other people in the past. When I last a lens I didn't bother filing a report.

6

I did think about offering to pay a "fee" to take the form out of the office for long enough to take it to a photocopy shop but didn't know how to phrase my offer correctly. I was afraid that if I said it to the wrong person, they might take offence and I could end up thrown in jail for attemping to bribe a police officer!

7

I just wrote a post but it got pulled up by the electronic moderator. I might substitute the word I had used for the words 'offered tea".

I did think about offering to pay a "fee " to take the form out of the copshop and to a photocopy place but didn't know how to phrase my offer correctly in a way that wouldn't end my holiday in the slammer for having offered tea to the wrong person.

8

Re post 6: if you don't know any Nepalis (eg guides) your hotel should be able to help, or at least advise.

9

Just ask for the FIR number, the officers name, address and phone number of police station and let your insurance company do the rest.

10

The police maybe withholding the report to see how legitimate the loss/theft is, knowing the insurance scams that go on. One reason for withholding the report could be the date on which you filed it, if it was just before you were due to leave they might think it was a bit suspect.

11

In 18 years in Nepal, I have had to file only one Police Report; however, it was for a stolen shoulder bag containing money and my Passport. I had to file a report at a District Office in Kathmandu in Paknajol (close to Thamel, Kathamandu) plus at the Interpol office near Durbar Square. Both offices gave me a copy of the report immediately, same day as the theft. I did not even have to ask for it - it was offered. I did go with a Nepali friend - maybe that made the difference. Assuming you are still in Nepal, I would ask for help and go back to the office (or even the Home Ministry in Singh Durbar. They are in charge of the Police. Just in case that doesn't get action, I would prepare a letter in advance stating that I had made a Police Report (name the office and date) but that I had been refused a copy of the report. Have the senior authority present sign it and have it witnessed by the Nepali individual that accompanied you to the Office. If no one will sign the letter, have the Witness sign it anyway, stating that he or she witnessed the fact that signed confirmation could not be obtained. Get a specific name and address for your Insurance Company to contact for more information.

12

still trekking- unfortunately too late for any of your good suggestions as I have left Nepal. In retrospect I should have taken a photo of the police report with my iPad. No reply so far to any of my emails to them.