Guidance

Finland: information for victims of rape and sexual assault

Published 22 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.

This information is provided to help British nationals overseas make informed decisions about whether and how to:

• seek medical advice and attention
• report to local police
• engage with foreign legal authorities following a rape or other form of sexual assault overseas

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 international emergency number on 112
• contact your tour operator if you are travelling with one
• contact the British Embassy Helsinki on tel: 00358 (0)9 2286 5100. 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 crime to the police in Finland

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 nearest British embassy on 00358 (0)9 2286 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, text messages or social media messages.

Tell the police if you think you have been drugged.

It might not always be possible to see a female officer, but you can request one.

Most police officers in Finland speak English, but if necessary, an interpreter will be provided at no additional cost.

You need to report the crime to start a criminal investigation. If you want to apply for compensation for damages at a later stage, you will need to report the incident to the police.

You can report the crime at any police station regardless of where it took place. You can visit the police station in person. You cannot report the crime by telephone, as the police need to be able to verify your identity.

Victim Support Finland (RIKU) can offer support in reporting a crime. They can also report the crime on your behalf.

Crimes are normally reported at the police station’s general desk, where confidentiality may be difficult. You can request a separate room in order to report a crime.

At the police station, you will be asked to provide a statement and describe the attacker, and the police might ask you to provide evidence. Evidence may include:

• items of clothing

• contact details for the attacker or text message conversations

• results from any medical examination

You must also provide the details of any possible witnesses to the police.

You may need to provide a medical certificate later in legal proceedings, as evidence of the crime and as the basis for possible compensation claims.

If you have been a victim of sexual violence, try not to wash or change your clothes before visiting the doctor.

You can report an offence even if the offender is under 15 years old. A person younger than 15 years of age will not be held criminally liable in court, but they must compensate any caused damages.

You will not be expected to give up your passport at any time.

Rape and sexual assaults are usually investigated by local police, but another police unit can also take responsibility for an investigation. You can report the crime at any police station and it will be sent to the relevant police unit. Most police departments have separate detective teams and units for different kinds of crime.

As a victim, you are entitled to have a support person and a lawyer at no cost.

If you do not want to report the crime to the police in Finland

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. If you wish, and depending on location and timing, a member of consular staff may be able to accompany you to the hospital. They can also provide you with information on how to contact medical facilities, lawyers and translators.

You can receive any medical attention you need regardless of whether you report the attack to the police or not.

It is your choice on whether to report the crime. If you choose not to report it, your case may not be investigated, and this may impact your eligibility for compensation in the future.

Reporting the crime after leaving Finland

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.

Reporting the crime in Finland: what happens next

You will be asked to make a statement about the incident including a description of the attacker(s). The police might keep articles of clothing and may take photos of, for example, text messages or phone conversations for evidence.

Once you have made your statement to the police, you will be directed for a medical examination (if you consent to do so).

The medical examination: what to expect

All regional and university hospitals have the resources to treat victims of rape and sexual assault.

Helsinki

The Seri Support Centre at the Women’s Hospital is a support unit for people over 16 years of age, regardless of gender, who have experienced sexual violence. They offer an easy-to-access service that you can seek out yourself, with relatives or under the guidance of a public authority. You can contact them up to one month after the incident. You do not need to report the crime to the police to receive support from this organisation, although it is encouraged.

Children under the age of 16 will be treated at the emergency department of the New Children’s Hospital.

In regions outside of Helsinki

Seri Support Centres (or hubs, which refer you to the closest centre) are located in all university hospitals and in the most central hospitals.

Find your nearest support centre

In all Seri Support Centres trained nurses and midwives will answer the phone 24/7. You should phone the Centre before arriving, if possible, to ensure the most useful visit. They speak English.

Seri Support Centres will provide:

• psychological and social support to help you recover after the traumatic experience
• a forensic medical examination and laboratory samples
• all the medications, vaccinations, and emergency contraception you might need
• treatment follow-up plan
• information on other support services

When seeking medical attention after rape you will be offered a forensic medical examination, which includes:

• swabs to collect DNA from hands, your mouth and other areas of the skin that may provide evidence
• medical assessment of injuries
• taking photos of injuries
• for women, a gynaecological examination to assess injury. They will take internal and external vaginal (and anal, if necessary) swabs to collect DNA. For men, swabs for DNA are collected from the genitals, and anus if applicable
• blood and urine samples
• testing for sexually transmitted diseases
• emergency contraception

The medical examination is performed by a doctor and assisted by a trained Seri nurse/midwife. To ensure you feel safe there is an on call midwife present throughout the visit/examination at Seri Support Centre.

The doctor will also ask details about the assault, time, location, details about the perpetrator(s). If you want to make a police report, the police may come to the Seri Support Centre. This is to avoid you having to tell authorities about the incident several times.

You may be asked to leave articles of clothing. If you have chosen to report the assault, your clothes will be handed to the police for DNA testing.

Treatment

HIV post-exposure prophylaxis is offered at the Seri Support Centre for rape victims in Finland if there is a strong indication that the perpetrator might have been HIV positive.

You will be provided with emergency contraceptive if applicable when seeking medical attention after an assault. Depending on the emergency contraception available, it needs to be taken within 3 or 5 days of the incident for it to be effective.

The Seri procedure includes several follow up appointments and/or telephone calls. These are to check for sexually transmitted diseases and make sure further medical or psychological help is given, if needed. The first appointment is between one and 4 days after the incident and the last one after 6 months to one year after the incident.

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

Treatment and tests are free of charge at the Seri Support Centre for rape and sexual assault victims. Go to your local health centre out-patient reception if visiting a Seri Support Centre is not possible.

Police investigations in Finland: what to expect

If helpful, you can bring a person to support you. You can ask for free support staff trained for the task, for example, from Victim Support Finland.

If you decide you want to leave Finland, it is very important to inform the police of this and give updated contact information. If possible, you should not leave Finland before the police have interviewed you.

Make sure you get a police report, and request a translation in English if applicable.

Court procedures: what to expect

As a victim of a sexual crime you can obtain an attorney, paid fully by the government, regardless of your income.

For violent and sexual crimes, claims for compensation usually need more justification. Attorneys can explain the type, basis for and extent of claims for compensation you can make. Having an advisor or lawyer also helps you stay updated about your case.

You, and any witnesses, may be summoned to court to tell the prosecutor about the sequence of events and nature of damages. You must attend and you may be fined if you do not, unless you have a written justification from a doctor.

If you are summoned and have returned to the UK, and if it is not possible to attend by video, the Finnish government compensates for travel and accommodation based on receipts.

You may see the alleged attacker at the trial. You can request arrangements to avoid this happening. You can, for example, request that the accused person is removed from the court room during your questioning. If this happens, the accused person would be in another room, where they can hear but not see you. In exceptional cases, they may hear the victim or witness by video connection, and not be present in the court room at all.

Most crimes are ‘indictable offences’, which means that they are crimes subject to official prosecution. Police may investigate them and the prosecutor may prosecute, even if the victim does not want punishment for them.

The accused person can press counter charges claiming false accusations.

Everyone has the right to speak in their own language when dealing with authorities. This also applies at court. You must inform authorities in advance that you will need an interpreter, so that they can provide one.

The verdict can be announced at the end of the trial. The district court office can also provide it in writing, usually within 2 weeks. Your own attorney will usually obtain it.

When you return 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 Finland

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

Victim Support Finland (Rikosuhripäivystys)

Tel: 116 066 or contact online

Free legal advice: +358 (0)800161177
Online chat service

Rape Crisis Centre (Tukinainen)

Tel: +358 (0)800–97899
Free legal helpline: +358 (0)800–97895

Tukinainen is a national victim support centre that provides support and guidance for people who have been sexually assaulted or abused.

Mental health support

Crisis helpline +358 (0)9 2525 0113

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 (February 2022).