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Giving a statement to police

When you go in to give a statement, the police investigator interviews you about your experience of the offence. The police’s role is to ascertain the truth of the case and your description is a key element.

Manneska situr við skrifborð með tölvuskjá fyrir framan sig og slær inn á lyklaborð. Fyrir framan skrifborðið situr önnur manneskja á stól. Sú manneskja er með áhyggjusvip og heldur vinstri hendi að hjartastað.
Table of contents

This web page is part of the Guide to the Icelandic justice system for victims of sexual offences. It aims to clarify the process regarding offences against individuals 18 years and older.

Preparation

Your legal rights protector prepares you for giving a statement and what to expect. It’s also recommended to have your legal rights protector with you when you go in to give the statement. If you have yet to find a legal rights protector, you can get a list of them from the police or survivor support centres.

Useful information:

  • The interview is recorded in both audio and video format.
  • The people present in the room are you, the police investigator, and your legal rights protector. If you need an interpreter, they are also present.
  • If you realize later that not everything came up in the interview you can contact the investigator or your legal rights protector and ask to add information to your statement. Then the investigator might call you in again so that the additional information is also recorded.
  • Giving a statement does not have to automatically entail pressing charges. You can decide after you give a statement whether you want the case to be pursued or not. The interview often ends with the victim being asked directly whether they want to press charges so that it is clear.

Location

The interview takes place in an interview room at a police station.

How long does it take to give a statement?

It usually takes around an hour to give a statement. Sometimes it takes longer, so it is good to allow for that.

You can bring notes with you, a notebook to write in, or a pre-written text.

More good advice?

See also

Good to know

  • Before you and your legal rights protector go in to give a statement, your legal rights protector will go over the process of giving a statement with you and what you need to have with you.
  • It’s good to have recounted the incident out loud before you go in for the interview. That can help you to recount everything clearly and make the process easier. You can do so on your own, with someone you trust, or with your legal rights protector.
  • You can bring notes with you, a notebook to write in, or a pre-written text.
  • You can ask for a different investigator to interview you if you don’t feel comfortable discussing the case with the investigator that is initially assigned to you.
  • Do not hide consumption of alcohol or use of drugs. It does not impact your status and can help with the case investigation.
  • After giving a statement, you can expect to feel exhausted, so it is not recommended to return to work or run errands immediately afterwards.
  • You should definitely give the best possible description of the offence and not hesitate to use the correct words for things, for example body parts. Investigators are very accustomed to hearing everything about this type of offence.

Things you may not expect

There are various things that could surprise you about the process of giving a statement. Here are some examples:

  • The interview can seem impersonal. The reason is that those who investigate the case are required to be impartial. Their goals is nevertheless to get as much information as possible about what happened, so try to the best of your ability to not let it bother you too much.
  • The investigator needs to ask many uncomfortable questions. For example, about very personal or vulnerable experiences, your clothing, and your condition. This is not to condemn you, rather this information is essential for the investigation of the case. Information about clothing, for example, could be used to find you on security camera footage so your whereabouts before and after the event can be traced.
  • The investigator who conducts the interview is not in police uniform, rather in their own clothing.

After giving a statement

Now there is a wait of several months while police investigate the case. There is little you can do other than focus on building yourself back up after the trauma.

Psychological help for victims

If you want you can talk to a psychologist. A psychologist, appointed to you by the Landspítali trauma team, will call you. This is a psychologist that has specialised in dealing with sexual abuse. You do not have to pay for the sessions with the trauma team psychologist.

Phone call

The police will send a reference to Landspítali after you have given your statement. Within a week you will receive a call from the psychologist. The psychologist will discuss with you how you are coping after the trauma and its repercussions. Then they will invite you to come for a psychology session if you want.

Session

In the first session the psychologist will give you information on the natural response to trauma. You'll discuss useful ways to deal with the aftermath of the trauma that you have experienced. In order to assess your status, the psychologist will ask you to fill out a questionnaire.

How long is the therapy?

Processing the aftermath of sexual abuse is very individual. For some it is enough to get information and psychological support right after the incident. Others need formal therapy that can take longer. The service is always adapted to the needs of each individual. Please note that the Trauma Team only works through this trauma with you but does not take on other things you may be dealing with.

Confidentiality

According to law and their own code of conduct, psychologists are bound by confidentiality. That means the cannot give other information about you unless you have given them written consent.

If you turned the offer down but are ready now to accept the service

If you turned the services of the Trauma Team down right after you gave your statement but you have changed your mind you are welcome to contact them at neydarmottaka@landspitali.is and request their services.

Psychological support for perpetrators

Those that have been accused of commiting a sexual offence and been called to give a statement with the police can also get support. The psychologists at Taktu skrefið give support when needed. You do not have to pay for the first session. If you and your psychologist agree that more sessions are needed, they each cost 3.000 kr.

If you turned the offer down but are ready now to accept the service

If you turned the service of Taktu skrefið down right after you gave your statement but you have changed your mind you can contact them at taktuskrefid@taktuskrefid.is and request their services.

Confidentiality.

According to law and their own code of conduct, psychologists are bound by confidentiality.

Another interview

While the investigation is ongoing the police may call you in for another interview to shed light on something that has emerged during the investigation or ask you for some data. If so, the police will contact your legal rights protector who will assist you in answering.

Back to beginning

A guide to the Icelandic justice system

Next step

Going to the Emergency Room for Sexual Abuse