Guidance

Iceland: information for victims of rape and sexual assault

Published 3 November 2022

If you’ve been sexually assaulted it’s important to remember that it was not your fault. Rape and sexual assault is always wrong – no matter who commits it or where it happens. It is traumatic and it can affect you both physically and emotionally. Do not be afraid to get help.

For information on support available in the UK, see Rape and Sexual Assault: Returning to the UK.

First steps

It is your choice about what you do next, but this information may help you in coming to a decision. The most important thing is to make sure that you are as safe as you can be. You can:

• contact the common emergency number in Iceland on 112
• contact your tour operator if you are travelling with one
• contact the British Embassy in Reykjavik at +354 5505100 and select option 2. Embassy staff will be empathetic, and 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 want to report the incident to the police in Iceland

If you have a tour operator, they should be able to arrange for someone to support you. If you are in an area where there is a British embassy or consulate, they will try to send a consular officer to support you, where timing and location allow. You will always be able to speak to trained consular staff on the telephone 24/7.

If you approach the police directly, you can also ask them to inform the British embassy in Reykjavik on +354 550 5100 and they can offer you consular support.

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.

Insist you get a police report. You can ask the police to prepare the police report in English.

You will not put yourself at risk by reporting the incident to the police, whatever your gender or sexual preference.

If you prefer speaking to a female or a male officer that can be arranged by the police. You might have to wait for the officer while he gets called out on duty.

The police are obligated to appoint a legal representative on your behalf if you request one. The police and the sexual assault clinic have a list of recommended lawyers that specialise in sexual abuse cases.

Legal representation is free of charge for victims of sexual assaults, regardless if you report the assault to the police or not.

The rape and sexual assault clinic is in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, but you can go to any hospital or health clinic in Iceland to get assistance.

If the time and location allows, a consular officer might be able to be with you at the police station and provide you with emotional support. They cannot act as an interpreter. Consular staff will be empathetic and non-judgmental. Anything you tell them will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Reporting the crime in Iceland: what happens next

You can report the crime by:

• going to the police station
• going to the rape and sexual assault clinic or your nearest hospital
• calling the emergency number 112 (especially if the crime is ongoing or threatened)

The police can take you to the hospital for a forensic examination. If you go to the hospital first you can ask the hospital staff to call the police and they will meet you there and you can press charges immediately.

The police will take a statement from you. They will ask for details of the attack, including a description of the attacker. It’s important that the police get all the information possible to be able to build the case.

When a police report is taken it’s always done in Icelandic. An interpreter is brought in to translate for you when your statement is being taken. You may need to wait for an interpreter. Consular staff cannot act as interpreters.

All police officers are English speaking and will be able to speak to you in English outside of official police work (taking your official statement).

If you decide to press charges the police will start to investigate. They will gather all evidence and present it to the district prosecutor. The district prosecutor makes an assessment of the case and decides if the evidence is sufficient to lead to a conviction. The district prosecutor would then prosecute the case.

This process is handled by the authorities and your appointed legal representative.

The police will not inform the police in the UK of the assault. If you need welfare checks when you are back in the UK, your appointed legal representative can contact the police in the UK.

Evidence

The police will try to collect as much evidence possible. Evidence collected may differ depending on each case.

The police might ask for the clothes you were wearing when the attack took place. If there are any evidence on your electronic equipment, for example, phone or computer, the police will need to take a copy of that equipment. This might take some time.

Evidence that the police might collect:

• documents, samples and test results from the sexual assault emergency clinic/ hospital you went to after the assault
• if you seek psychological help or have already done that after you report it to the police, they will ask for those reports
• your medical history before the assault and after
• copies of your electronic data (if there is any evidence there)
• the clothes you were wearing when the assault took place
• statements from any potential witnesses of the assault

You will not have to surrender your passport if you press charges, the police will only take a copy of your passport.

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

The British Embassy in Reykjavik 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.

They 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 may accompany you to the local hospital. Depending on location and timing, a member of consular staff may be able to accompany you, if you want them to.

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

Reporting the incident after leaving Iceland

You can report the assault when you are back in the UK, you do not need to be in-country for the crime to be investigated. If you decide to report an assault once you are back home you report the crime to the local police and they alert the Icelandic police.

You always have the right to medical attention regardless if you report the assault or not.

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. In many countries, 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 British Embassy in Reykjavik, 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.

The medical examination: what to expect

You can seek treatment in any hospital in Iceland. Seeking treatment does not mean pressing charges. However, the hospital is obliged to notify child protection authorities if the victim is under 18 years of age.

The police will only receive the report of the forensic examination if you press charges. The hospital keeps all the reports, pictures and test results for one year.

There is a team of doctors and nurses working at the rape and sexual assault clinic. They do the forensic examination. They will:

• check for external injuries
• take internal swabs
• preform blood tests for STDs
• take pictures of injuries

You can request a male or a female doctor if you prefer a particular gender.

You will be treated the same regardless of your gender.

Embassy staff will help you find the closest hospital and can call ahead to inform them that you are coming if needed. If you would like a Consular officer to accompany you, we will try to do so where time constraints allow for this. If you are already at the hospital or police station and you need consular support we will meet you there if time constraints allow for this. If you are travelling with a tour operator, their local rep might also be able to escort you. It is essential that you receive medical support and care as soon as possible.

Treatment

The hospital medical staff do not prescribe HIV PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis, a treatment that can prevent HIV infection) to victims. They do a blood test for HIV and HEP B and C. The medical staff recommends that all victims get blood tested again in 3 months and 6 months.

If the Victim test positive the medical staff at the rape and sexual assault clinic will contact the ward/department for infectious diseases at the hospital and request that they take over treating the victim for HIV.

HIV PEP medication needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective. The NHS may be able to commence or continue the 28-day treatment on return to the UK

You can get emergency contraception at the hospital free of charge. You can also get it at the pharmacy or get it prescribed by a GP but that is not free of charge.

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

All treatment for victims of sexual assault is free of charge.

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

Psychological assistance is also available through the emergency clinic.

Police investigations in Iceland: what to expect

The police will be looking to identify not only the attacker but also the location of the attack. If you are unsure of the location, they might take you to the area where you think it might have happened to get a clearer idea.

It is possible that the police will ask you to identify a suspect who is brought into the police station, but this would normally be with photos. The police rarely ask victims to identify a suspect through tinted glass.

The police might request that the attacker is remanded in custody if the attacker is an immediate danger to the public or is likely to obstruct the investigation or leave the country. In most cases the attacker is free to go after his statement is taken by the police.

In order for your case to go before a judge it must first go through the following process:

• police investigate and gather evidence
• when the police investigation is completed, the district prosecutor receives the case and ensures that the investigation is complete
• if they consider the evidence is likely to lead to a conviction, the case is prosecuted in front of a judge

If the case is dismissed by the police or the district prosecutor, that decision can be appealed to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

If the case goes in front of a judge you may need to appear in court to testify. Your lawyer might be able to make a statement on your behalf depending on the case.

You will not be expected to remain in Iceland throughout this process. You might be asked to come back to Iceland to make a statement if the case will go in front of a judge.

Court procedure: what to expect

You might be asked to come back to Iceland to make a statement/testify if the case goes to court. Depending on your case you might be able to testify from the UK.

If the case is referred to further investigation there is a possibility that you would be asked for an additional statement.

If the police has not already appointed you a legal representative, one will be appointed by the court when the case is brought in front of a judge. This service is free of charge for victims of sexual assaults.

The lawyer’s role is important. They explain the legal process to you, liaise with the court, provide you with updates and ensure your rights are upheld. They also explain the impact the attack has had on you to the court and make a claim to the court for you to receive compensation for any losses or injuries you might have sustained.

After the charges are filed you can drop the charges. Depending on the severity of the case, the police might want to investigate further and proceed with the case.

If the offender is charged by the court they may be ordered to pay compensation for any injuries or losses for the victim.

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.

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.

England

NHS Choices or search the internet for ‘NHS SARC’

Scotland

Archway SARC: phone 0141 211 8175

Wales

New Pathways SARC: phone 01685 379 310

Ynys Saff Sexual Assault Referral Centre - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Northern Ireland

Rowan SARC Northern Ireland: phone 0800 389 4424

Support organisations in Iceland

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

Emergency services for victims of rape and sexual assault

Fossvogur 108 Reykjavik

Tel: +354 543 2000/ +354 543 2085

Open 24/7, Icelandic and English speaking

Emergency services provide:

• support and counselling
• forensic and medical examination
• legal services and psychological services

All services are free of charge for victims.

‘Bjarkahlíð’/’Bjarkahlid’

Bleikargróf/Bleikargrof 6 108 Reykjavik

Tel: +354 553 3000

Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Icelandic, English, Spanish and Polish speaking.

Bjarkahlið is a family Justice centre for survivors of violence. It provides coordinated service that is survivors driven by asking the clients what they need. It also gives information about the appeal process and the justice system with the police. Assistance from the police to ensure safety for the survivors and to assess the risk of further violence. This service is for 18 years and older.

‘Stígamót’/’Stigamot’

‘Síðumúli/Sidumuli 23 108 Reykjavik

Tel: +354 562 6868

Open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm. Icelandic and English speaking.

Stigamot is a centre for survivors of sexual violence that provides free and confidential counselling. Services are also extended to family members and loved ones of survivors. Teenagers under the age of 18 are welcome once a report has been filed with the Children’s Protective Services.

Red Cross helpline

Tel: +354 580 1710

Open 24/7. Icelandic and English speaking.

The Red Cross helpline is always open and free, full confidentiality promised.

The helplines main role is to provide active listening and advice on community resources for individuals of all ages in need.

Women’s shelter in Reykjavik

In the capital area. Contact by phone/email if you need support and the location.

Tel: +354 561 1205

Email: kvennaathvarf@kvennaathvarf.is

Open 24/7. Icelandic and English speaking.

The Women’s shelter provides telephone support/advice, Interviews for victims and their families. They also offer women who are being abused or subjected to violence on behalf of their current or former partner are welcome to stay at the shelter.

Women’s shelter in the North - Akureyri

Contact by phone/email if you need support and the location

Tel: +354 561 1206

Email: nordurland@kvennaathvarf.is or signy@kvennaathvarf.is

Open 24/7. Icelandic and English speaking.

The Women’s shelter provides telephone support/advice, Interviews for victims and their families. They also offer women who are being abused or subjected to violence on behalf of their current or former partner are welcome to stay at the shelter.

Women’s Advice

Túngata 14 101 Reykjavik

Tel: +354 552 1500

Open Tuesdays 8pm to 10pm and Thursdays from 2pm to 4pm.

Women’s advice provide free legal and social advice for women and men

Disclaimer

This information has been prepared by HMG 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 HMG 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).