Agreement on safe and abuse-free nightclubs

The agreement aims to prevent all possible violence at nightclubs. Violence such as gender-based and sexual harassment, prostitution and human trafficking, as well as violence based on discrimination or hate, such as towards immigrants or queer people, is not tolerated.

All nightclub staff has the right to:

  • Work without experiencing abuse or threats.
  • Work without experiencing gender-based or sexual harassment.
  • Feel safe at work.

Nightclub staff:

  • Call the police if a violent offence or sex offence occurs or in the case of possession or use of illegal substances.
  • Do not show any tolerance toward violence in any form, including sexual offences, gender-based or sexual harassment, as well as other harassment and violence based on discrimination or hate, for example toward immigrants or queer people.
  • Monitor their bathrooms in a systematic, organized, and scheduled manner, in order to counteract violent offences, sexual offences, and possession or use of illegal drugs.
  • Ensure that doors and locks to bathroom stalls are such that bouncers and staff can open doors from the outside so that they can counteract violent offences and sexual offences.
  • Equip stalls in such a way that it is not possible to climb over or crawl under their partitions but so that it is easy to see whether and how many people are inside so that violence offences and sexual offences can be counteracted.

Staff call the police in the case of:

  • A violent offence
  • A sexual offence
  • Possession or use of illegal substances.

If you experience or witness abuse, seek out:

Stígamót

Stígamót helps people of all genders who have been sexually abused.

Police

The police in Iceland help people who have suffered abuse of any kind. Police see abuse in close relationships as a very serious matter.

ER for Sexual Abuse

The Emergency Room for Sexual Abuse assists anyone who has been raped, experienced attempted rape or any other sexual abuse.

Bouncers

Bouncers are responsible for monitoring:

  • The age of patrons.
  • The number of patrons.
  • The opening hours.
  • Whether alcohol is being brought into or taken out of the establishment.
  • That all patrons can be safe and can enjoy themselves without abuse.
  • Other issues related to the rules of the establishment or laws and regulations.

Good communication, less abuse

Bouncers practice good communication and are level-headed, polite, and firm.

De-escalation is key in situations where people are trying to hurt each other. If it’s possible to calm someone down by talking to them, then that is the best option.

Bouncers contact the police when problems have become too big.

Good communication consists of questions and requests, pointing out facts, and describing consequences. The key is using matter-of-fact reactions and explanations.

For example:

  • You’ve been having a fight.
  • I watched you harrass/damage ...
  • In our opinion, you’ve gone too far.
  • The rules of the place are clear and therefore... (shift responsibility over to the rules).
  • Please stop doing that.
  • Please leave.
  • Poor communication: accusations, unfounded judgements, demands, and threats.

Slæm samskipti: ásakanir, sleggjudómar, heimtingar og hótanir.

For example:

  • Get the hell out.
  • You're drunk, you idiot.
  • You fucked up.

If someone approaches you due to sexual harassment, sexual abuse or drugging

  • Listen, show understanding, and treat the person with respect.
  • Call 112.
  • Take care of the person as well as you can, do not leave them alone and defenceless.
  • In the case of rape, you can call the Emergency Room for Victims of Sexual Violence at the National Hospital's Fossvogur location. Phone number: 543 1000
  • Take down information about the person who the complaints are against. Write down as much as possible. You can write down a description of the person, their name, and the course of events. Since you are sober, you are more likely to remember and notice things that could be useful in an investigation. This information can make a difference in a criminal case.
  • Escort the person whom the complaints were against out of the establishment.

Various forms of sexual abuse and harassment

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is when someone touches you inappropriately or sexually, or forces you to perform a sexual act against your will. Sexual harassment with words or action is also abuse.

Rape

Nobody has the right to force another person to do something sexual against their will. Having sex with another person without consent is rape.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is when someone oversteps sexual boundaries.

Spiking

Spiking is when someone gives another person a drink, medicine or drugs that have been spiked.

Various things for bouncers to consider

  • Dyraverðir geta spurt alla um skilríki og það á líka við um gesti sem eru inni á staðnum. Lögleg skírteini eru: ökuskírteini, vegabréf, nafnskírteini. Ekki má nota debetkort, bókasafnskort, félagakort eða annað eins.
  • Starfsfólk skemmtistaða er í lykilstöðu til að aðstoða við lausnir lögreglumála. Gott er að hafa í huga að markmið lögreglu er að leysa afbrot.
  • Fyrstu viðbrögð dyravarða og annars starfsfólks skiptir miklu máli. Yfirveguð og róleg aðkoma að málum og gott samstarf við lögreglu gerir vinnu lögreglu auðveldari.
  • Dyraverðir og annað starfsfólk er oft eina fólkið sem er edrú. Gott er að punkta niður ef eitthvað sérstakt gerist.
  • Ef upptaka næst af atviki er mikilvægt að upptakan glatist ekki.
  • Lögreglan í sínu eftirlitshlutverki hefur óheftan aðgang að skemmtistaðnum og því sem undir hann heyrir.
  • Dyravörðum er heimilt að vísa fólki út af stöðum vegna vímuefnaneyslu eða sölu.
  • Hægt er að láta lögreglu vita af vímuefnamálum með nafnleynd eða undir nafni.
  • Hátalarar utan við skemmtistað án leyfis varða sekt.

Ungmenni

  • Yngri en 18 ára er bannað að vera á veitingastað með áfengisveitingaleyfi eftir kl. 22 á kvöldin nema í fylgd með foreldri, öðrum forráðamönnum, ættingja eða maka sem er 18 ára eða eldri.
  • Undanþága er gefin í sumum tilvikum eins og á skóladansleikjum þar sem ekki eru áfengisveitingar.
  • Ef ungmennalög eru brotin er sektað.
  • Barþjónn sem selur áfengi til yngri en 20 ára fær persónulega sekt ásamt því að staðurinn fær skýrslu á sig.

Það má ekki:

  • Veita áfengi á öðrum tímum en skráð er í rekstrarleyfi staðarins.
  • Veita áfengi á annan hátt en er skráð er í rekstrarleyfi staðarins.
  • Veita aðrar áfengistegundir en eru skráðar í rekstrarleyfi staðarins.

Viðurlög vegna brota

  • Lögreglan á að loka staðnum samkvæmt lögum ef að rekstrarleyfi er ekki gilt eða starfsemi staðarins fer út fyrir mörk útgefins rekstrarleyfis.
  • Fyrst eru skyndilokanir en svo er svipting rekstrarleyfis ef um ítrekuð brot er að ræða.
  • Sektir eru við sölu áfengis undir aldri og ef hátalari er utan við staðinn.
  • Sektað er fyrir svo til öll brot sem varða skyldur dyravarða (og annarra þegar kemur að meðferð og afhendingu áfengis).
  • Svipting dyravarðarréttinda er eina refsingin sem getur komið til greina eins og er.

We are all prejudiced

Marginalized groups are groups that experience discrimination and violence more often than others in society. Prejudice makes us more likely to inflict violence on other people or neglect to help them when they need it.