Guidance

Information for victims of rape and sexual assault in Norway

Published 7 March 2023

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First steps

It is your choice about what you do next, but this information may help you decide. Make sure that you are as safe as you can be. You can:

  • contact the international emergency number on 112 or the local police on +47 02800

  • contact the local out-of-hours medical service on +47 116 117 for help. They will give you advice and put you in touch with a sexual assault centre

  • contact your tour operator if you are travelling with one

  • contact the British Embassy in Oslo on +47 23132700.

Embassy staff will be empathetic, non-judgmental, and can provide information on local police and medical procedures. Anything you tell them will be treated in the strictest confidence. They can contact your family or friends for you if you wish.

If you are in an emergency, acute or life-threatening situation, call:

  • 112 for the Norwegian police

  • 113 for an ambulance

  • +47 02800 to speak to your local police, who can also provide advice and guidance

Contact a sexual assault centre

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you should contact a sexual assault centre as soon as possible, where you will receive medical assistance and support.

You can also contact the police directly for guidance and advice on what to do next. The police can also put you in touch with the nearest sexual assault centre.

Sexual assault centres provide a safe space and dedicated care for anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. They offer a range of services, including:

  • crisis care

  • medical and forensic examinations

  • emergency contraception

  • testing for sexually transmitted infections

The centres have specially trained doctors, nurses and support workers to care for you. All assistance available at the assault centre is optional and you can choose which services to use. You do not need a referral from a doctor or anyone else, and you will receive help regardless of whether you wish to report the assault to the police or not. Help is available 24 hours a day and is free of charge.

Services also include:

  • counselling in safe surroundings

  • medical examinations in order to detect, treat and prevent injuries and infection

  • pregnancy testing

  • forensic examination to secure evidence

  • help in contacting the police

  • help in contacting a lawyer (free of charge) regardless of whether the assault has been reported to the police

  • information about follow-up services, crisis shelters and other places to get help

Sexual assault centres are located across the country and are available for everyone, regardless of gender, age, the type of incident, or when it happened. Centres are linked with accident and emergency departments and hospitals and are a part of the public health service.

If it is difficult for you to get to your closest assault centre for example because of adverse weather conditions or long distances, you can contact an accident and emergency department. The accident and emergency department will assist you. Some accident and emergency departments can also perform forensic examinations to secure evidence.

Call +47 116 117 to find your nearest accident and emergency department.

The medical examination: what to expect

Sexual assault centres have nurses, general practitioners, gynaecologists and paediatricians, and psychosocial professionals. Children under 14 will be examined by a paediatrician.

You will talk with a nurse or a social worker (sosial konsulent) first. You can choose to always have a friend or someone else with you.

After this, you will be given a full examination by a doctor:

  • to detect, treat and avoid injury and infection

  • to collect and document forensic evidence.  Your clothes will be kept as evidence

A female nurse will always be present, to assist the doctor, but also to care for you. You choose if you want to have the examination.  You can stop it at any time or take breaks.

The examination may also include:

  • taking photographs of any injuries or bruises

  • taking swabs, both internal and external

  • testing for DNA, sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

  • collecting blood and urine samples for toxicology and pregnancy test, where necessary

You will also be offered emergency contraception, HIV PEP (see Treatment section below), and the Hepatitis B vaccine.

Hospitals do not automatically report the results of any examination to the police. This is your choice. The staff at the assault centres have a duty of confidentiality. They can only disclose your personal information to third parties with your consent, or if there is an immediate risk of someone being harmed. If you choose to report the incident, you will need to give written consent, and the evidence will be given to the police by the medical facility.

If you choose not to report the incident, your evidence is kept for up to 6 months at the medical facility, in case you change your mind.  After 6 months it will be destroyed.

Treatment

Depending on the assault, anti-HIV treatment, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) may be prescribed. Treatment must start within 48 to 72 hours. The course lasts 4 weeks.

The NHS may be able to commence or continue the 28-day treatment when you return to the UK

You will be given free emergency contraception, if necessary, up to 5 days after the assault This can also be bought over the counter without prescription at any pharmacy.

Emergency contraception needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective.

You do not need a referral, and medication is free, regardless of whether you report the assault to the police or not.

If you have medication administered overseas, you should keep the label or make a note of the name of the medication, so that you can let your local health provider know when you return to the UK.

Watch a video about treatment and care at assault centres (with English subtitles).

If you want to report the incident to the police in Norway

Before you go to the police station

If you are thinking about reporting the offence to the police, the sexual assault centre can arrange for you to speak to a specially trained police officer. You can also contact the police directly on the emergency number 112 or call +47 02800 to speak to your local police. If you approach the police directly, you can ask them to inform the British Embassy, Oslo on +47 23 13 27 00 and we can offer you consular support.

We can give you information about the legal process and support you as a witness if there is a criminal trial. We can provide guidance and information about how to report a crime. We will help you apply for criminal injury compensation. We can support you through the legal process, from reporting a crime to the police until the case is completed and a verdict is reached. You will always be able to speak to trained consular staff on the telephone 24/7.

If you have a tour operator, they should be able to arrange for someone to support you.

If you choose to report the crime, try to do so as soon as possible, so forensic evidence can be retained. Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence.

If you change your clothes, think about taking those you were wearing to the police. You may wish to preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes, or texts. Tell the police if you think you have been drugged. Ask for a copy of the police report and request a translation in English if applicable.

At the police station

Where possible, there will be both a female and a male detective present.

You have the right to a free meeting with a lawyer before deciding whether to report the offence.  See Lawyers section for more information.

The Norwegian Police’s Criminal Investigating Department (CID) can organise an interpreter to be present during the interview, but this is not a formal requirement if the detective is considered to be fluent in English.

Norwegian Criminal investigation is led by a senior detective (usually a chief inspector) who is responsible for the tactical and technical aspects of the investigation. A police lawyer will review the investigation and make sure that due legal process is adhered to. The police lawyer is a member of the Prosecution Service.

At the police station, you are entitled to an interpreter, a legal counsellor (lawyer) and a specialist physician. There specialists are appointed by the Norwegian state, and you will not be charged for their services.

You must give an oral statement first.   If you haven’t already had a medical examination, you will be taken to a sexual assault centre to have one. Some hospitals also have special teams at the Emergency Ward to assist the police in sexual assault cases.

All of your clothing, including underwear, will be taken by police to be examined for traces of evidence. These items can be used as evidence later. You must give your consent for the police to collect this evidence. Items may be returned to you if you request this.

Making a statement

The prosecution is responsible for investigating the case and has an obligation to investigate all evidence, whether it incriminates or put the perpetrator in the clear.

You will have to make a statement about the incident including a description of the perpetrator(s).

You do not need to make a statement to the public prosecutor. Any correspondence between you and the prosecutor may be handled by your lawyer. The plaintiff will receive a copy of all official case documents apart from the plaintiff’s own written testimony. The lawyer will have access to all case documents.

You are not legally required to stay in Norway after the crime is reported to the police, a statement has been made and a medical examination has been made.

You do not have to surrender your passport.  However, you should not leave the country without informing the police beforehand.

Making an arrest

Police officers have the power to make an arrest at the crime scene, or they can get a warrant from the Norwegian Prosecution Service to take a person into custody.  The suspect will be brought to a detention centre/police station. The suspect must be presented to a magistrate’s court as soon as possible and no later than 3 days after the initial custody.

The suspect will be either released on certain conditions or remain in custody according to the decision made by the courts.

Lawyer

By law you are entitled to a lawyer in the following cases:

  • rape

  • attempted sexual assault

  • maltreatment, domestic abuse

  • human trafficking

  • arranged, forced marital union

  • genital dismemberment

You have the right to a free meeting with a lawyer before deciding whether or not to report the offence. The lawyer will be appointed by the court. The County Governor (“Statsforvalteren”) will pay the lawyer’s fees even if you decide not to report the offence. In urgent cases, the police may summon a lawyer who will be given the same position as a court-appointed lawyer.

If you decide to report the offence, your lawyer will provide advice and support, including with:

  • police questioning

  • all stages of the investigation

  • legal process in a court of law

  • being a point of contact between you and the police and prosecution service

Your lawyer should be informed of any police interview and given the opportunity to be present. They have access to all case documents, including the police interviews.

You can also find a list of lawyers in Norway.

A private lawyer will usually require a fee, or advance payment before taking a case. A Norwegian lawyer working on behalf of an UK client must adhere to the CCBE Code of Conduct.

If you do not want to report the incident to the police in Norway

The British embassy or consulate will be able to help you. This includes helping you to contact your insurance company, your family, making arrangements to travel back to the UK and/or provide you with information on local support in the UK.

The embassy can provide you with lists of English-speaking medical facilities, lawyers and translators.

If you are travelling with one, you can also report the incident to your tour operator and ask them for assistance. If you wish, the tour operator or consular staff may accompany you to the local hospital, depending on location and timing.

It is your choice on whether to report the crime. If you don’t report it, your case may not be investigated.

If you do not want to report the crime to the police, you will still be able to receive medical attention.

If you want to report the incident to the police in the UK

The support available to you, and your access to justice may vary according to where you report the crime. You need to report the crime before you leave the country, if you want it to be investigated and police to obtain important evidence.

If you are staying in the country where the crime took place, you should report the crime in that country. If you are a British national and you need help to report the crime, you can contact the nearest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London.

If you do not report the crime in the country where it happened and you return to the UK, you can still report the matter to your local UK police.

The UK police should send the information you provide to the country where the crime happened. However, it is for foreign police forces to decide whether to investigate a crime in their jurisdiction and they may not take action.

You can report the crime to the UK police even if you are not seeking an investigation abroad. The UK police can offer you access to victim support in the UK. They may still send some details of the crime to police in the country where it happened. This might be necessary in order to protect vulnerable people, or to stop more crimes being committed.

It is not a standard procedure for the local police to inform UK police of an assault. The Norwegian local police service may forward an inquiry to the Norwegian National Criminal Investigation Service (KRIPOS) through Interpol, if assistance from UK police is required.

If you have left the country without giving an oral or written statement to the local police, the Norwegian Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS) will forward a request for assistance to UK Police’s Criminal Investigation services.

Court procedures: what to expect

If the incident has been reported, the public prosecution decides whether to prosecute following a recommendation from the police prosecutor.

To press charges, the public prosecutor must be convinced that the accused is guilty and that their guilt can be proven beyond reasonable doubt in court. The main reason for this is mostly because the public prosecutor considers the evidence to be insufficient to secure a conviction in court, or because a lack of information about the assailant. Securing medical and forensic evidence is essential for proving the assault.

You can appeal your case through the Director of Public Prosecutions if it is dropped by the public prosecutor. Appealed cases sometimes end with a conviction in court.

In a public criminal trial, you do not participate in the process as a ‘party’. The parties in the process are:

  • the prosecuting authority

  • the defendant

The prosecuting authority summons witnesses to appear in court and a decision is made. You will act as a witness in the trial.

You are required to be present in court to give an oral testimony. If you are not able to be present in person, for example if you have returned to the UK, you can testify by video call. In some cases, your written testimony may be presented to the judges if you are absent.

Your testimony is required at the hearing.  The court may decide that the suspect leave the courtroom while you, or a witness who is under 18 years of age, is being examined.

Your lawyer will assist you at all stages of the case. In cases where a lawyer is not provided, you are still entitled to be kept aware of process related to the criminal case.

If the court needs you to give an additional statement, you may be interviewed by phone and in conference with a lawyer present.

However, serious criminal offences such as sexual assault or rape are subject to public prosecution, which means that they can be investigated, even if you drop the charges. There are no legal repercussions for you if you drop the charges, unless you have made a false claim.

According to the Norwegian judicial procedure, the suspect may claim that the accusations are false in a police interview or in a court of law given that the defendant wishes to give a statement (the defendant has the right to go against compelled self-incrimination). The defendant will not be able to press counter charges. It will be the responsibility of the Norwegian Prosecution Service to charge the plaintiff with perjury if there is probable cause to believe so.

You can request that the prosecuting authority open a civil legal claim your behalf in order to claim compensation. You do not become a party by making such a request. If the defendant is found guilty and convicted of charges, the Norwegian courts can order the defendant to pay compensation.

You may also pursue a civil legal claim yourself in connection with the criminal trial. If so, you will become a party pursuant to your claim. Normally, victims make a request to the prosecuting authority

Trial procedures

You will be informed beforehand and given the opportunity to be present at the trial. You can claim travel expenses through the Norwegian Crown court.

The Norwegian district or local court will notify you and your lawyer, prior to a trial date. You may also be contacted by the Norwegian Police. Police Prosecutor (who are trained lawyers). The trial will in Norwegian. Both you and the defendant will be appointed an interpreter by the court, if needed.

According to the Norwegian criminal prosecution act, the case will first be presented to a lower court: Tingretten (district court) but a ruling in the lower court can, and often will be, appealed to a higher court: Lagmannsretten (the court of appeal). A case may finally be appealed to the Høyesterett (Supreme Court). The Supreme Court will not overturn a verdict of guilt but may overturn the sentencing and return the case to the higher court.

Courts of appeal will normally have 2 judges and 5 lay judges, chosen from the public.

The prosecutor should request that the court set a date within 14 days after receiving the case. If the defendant is in custody the case should be presented within 6 to8 weeks. However, this is not always the case in Oslo.

Communication

Any communication regarding your case will usually be through your lawyer, but Norwegian police and their investigator assigned to the case may also contact you directly.

The appointed lawyer can handle the case on your behalf.

Sentencing

Sentencing is normally based on similar cases determined a precedent by a court of law. The sentence and prison term are decided according to the penal code and the criminal correction order.

Judges sentence according to the penal code:

  • sexual assault: 10 years imprisonment. This includes a sexual act through violence or threatening conduct, or assaulting an unconscious victim
  • rape: imprisonment between 3 and 15 years
  • aggravated assault, or repeated offences: imprisonment for up to 21 years

The prosecutor can appeal a verdict/judicial decision given in the lower court through the higher court. The higher court will hear the case from the start regardless of former proceedings in the lower court. Most criminal cases prosecuted by the State Attorney’s office (serious crime) are processed in both lower and higher courts.

Compensation

A victim of sexual assault may receive compensation from the perpetrators. The Norwegian Supreme Court has standardised the compensation rate to NOK 210,000.  In addition, the victim may receive a ‘victim of violence compensation’ (voldsoffererstatning) provided by the state, up to NOK 6,280,000.

The Norwegian state funded compensation scheme also covers physical/psychological injuries and therapy/treatment by a specialist.

Any foreign national that is victim of a violent crime within the kingdom or Norwegian territories (for example, Svalbard) is entitled to compensation, not limited to actual financial loss or factual claims of redress related to offence.

You can contact Kontoret for voldsoffererstatning is the Norwegian office you to seek compensation in cases of violence.

When you return home to the UK

You may want to let your GP or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) know what has happened to you so that you can talk about the experience and seek further support and advice where you live.

Country Organisation
England NHS Choices or search the internet for ‘NHS SARC’
Scotland Archway SARC or phone 0141 211 8175
Wales New Pathways SARC or phone 01685 379 310
Ynys Saff Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Cardiff and Vale University Health Board)
Northern Ireland Rowan SARC Northern Ireland or phone 0800 389 4424

If you believe you may be at risk of having contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI), you should ask your local health provider to test you. You should do this even if you have been tested in the country that the assault took place in.

Support organisations in Norway

It is your choice to let people know. If you are ready to talk about it, these organisations may be able to help you.

If you have been a victim of rape or other sexual assault you can find someone to speak with and receive medical assistance at an assault centre. You do not need a referral from a doctor or anyone else and you will receive help regardless of whether you wish to report the assault to the police. Their services are free of charge and the centres are open 24 hours a day.

All assistance available at the assault centre is optional and you choose which services to use. You can receive help even if the assault did not take place recently. You can bring someone with you when you attend the centre.

Additionally a local Doctor or GP or a child health clinic can provide medical assistance, advice, guidance, and make referrals if necessary. Doctors and assault centres can also secure forensic evidence.

Disclaimer

This information has been prepared by UK Government officials who are not legally or medically trained. It should therefore never be used as a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. It is intended to help British nationals overseas make their own informed decisions. Neither the UK Government nor any official of the Consulate accept liability for any loss or damage which you might suffer as a result of relying on the information supplied.

Medical information has been provided by The Havens Sexual Assault Referral Centres of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and was accurate at the time of production (02/02/2022).

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