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This guidance uses the term 鈥榲ictim鈥� to refer to the person who has experienced gender violence. The guidance refers specifically to support available for victims of gender violence, according to the Spanish Organic Law 1/2004 of 28 December, on Integral Protection Measures against Gender Violence. Under this law, the violent act must be committed by a man towards a female victim where there is or has been an intimate relationship. If descendants live with the perpetrator and the victim, they are also covered by this law.

Gender violence, under this law, includes any act of physical or psychological violence; including sexual violence, threats, coercion, or any type of arbitrary limitation of freedom.

If you are a victim of domestic abuse not covered by this law, there is support available. Contact the nearest British Consulate in Spain for information on local procedures and assistance.

For information on support available in the UK, read gender violence: 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:

• call 112 for 24-hour immediate assistance from any of the emergency services in Spain. English-speaking staff are available
• call 016 (WhatsApp 600 000 016; email: 016-online@msssi.es) for information and advice. The service is free and confidential, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is accessible for people with hearing difficulties and available in 53 languages
• contact your tour operator if you are travelling with one
• contact the nearest British Consulate in Spain. We will be empathetic, and non-judgemental, and can provide information on local police and medical procedures. Anything you tell us will be treated in the strictest confidence. We can contact your family or friends for you if you wish.

If you want to report the incident to the police

You can contact the police directly by phoning the 112 emergency number, or in person at a police station. You can also ask them to inform the nearest听British Consulate in Spain, so we can support you.

The Spanish Police and Civil Guard have a mobile app which offers a number of services, including an SOS button for emergency assistance, geo-targeted safety alerts, and discreet and simple communication channels with the police if you experience or witness a crime. When you first register, you can choose your preferred language and add your UK mobile phone number using country code +44. See听听for download links and听. This service works throughout Spain, apart from the Basque country and Catalonia.

The National Police (UFAM 鈥� Unidad de Atenci贸n a la Familia y la Mujer) and the Guardia Civil (EMUME 鈥� Equipo de Mujer y Menor) are responsible for investigating gender violence cases and for protecting women and children who are victims.

Depending on where you are in Spain, there are also regional police forces:

• Mossos d鈥橢squadra (Catalonia)
• Ertzainta (Basque Country)
• Policia Foral (Navarre)
• Policia Canaria (Canaries)

When you report the incident, specialised gender violence police will interview you at the police station. You can request to speak to a female officer, if one is available. Police officers may not speak English but will provide an interpreter for you if you do not speak Spanish. The British embassy and consulates do not offer interpreting or translation services but may be able to assist you in exceptional circumstances.

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

You can contact the nearest British Consulate in Spain. If you want us to, we can support you to:

• contact your family
• get medical attention (we may be able to go with you)
• travel back to the UK
• provide information on local and UK support organisations

If you are travelling with a tour operator, you can ask them for assistance. They may be able to accompany you to the local hospital or medical centre. For information on local support available in the UK, see gender violence: returning to the UK.

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. If you are staying in the country where the crime took place, 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 do not report the crime in Spain and you return to the UK, you can still report the matter to your local UK police who should send the information you provide to the country where the crime happened and offer you access to victim support in the UK. The process can take a long time and it is for foreign police forces to decide whether to investigate a crime in their jurisdiction and they may not take action.

UK police are less likely to have any forensic evidence or to be able to carry out a detailed investigation as evidence such as CCTV is normally only kept for a few weeks. If you file a report in the UK, by the time the report reaches Spain, the evidence may have been lost.

British and UK resident perpetrators

If the incident was reported abroad, UK authorities will assist in the extradition of any UK resident requested by a foreign country. If your attacker is a UK resident you may be able to get protection from them in the UK by, for example,听getting an injunction鈥痶o keep them away from you. You should speak to a lawyer about options available to you.

If the suspect is a UK national (or UK resident), subject to certain conditions, UK police forces may be able to prosecute the suspect in the UK for an offence committed outside the UK. Your local police station should be able to advise or refer your case to the Crown Prosecution Service or Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Court hearing

When you have made your statement the police will submit their report to court to decide on any protection orders. The judge will call you to an initial hearing and hold a separate one with the perpetrator and the public prosecutor.

The perpetrator must be brought to court within 72 hours of arrest.

After this hearing the judge will determine whether there is a gender violence case and what measures to put in place to protect you in the meantime. These may be criminal; for example a restraining order or an order preventing the perpetrator from communicating with you; or civil, for example the perpetrator must leave the family home.

After the hearing, one of these outcomes will follow:

• 鈥榡uicio r谩pido鈥� - if immediate evidence is enough to demonstrate a crime has been committed, meaning it can move straight to a hearing
• 鈥榙iligencias previas鈥� - when further investigation is needed. You may be required to provide further evidence or statements and the matter could go to full trial
• case archived, if it is assessed that no crime has been committed or there is insufficient evidence to proceed at that time

The court considers the statement of the victim as fundamental evidence because gender violence often happens without witnesses.

If a consular officer is available we may be able to accompany you to the police station and help you to understand the process. You do not have to give up your passport whilst the investigation is carried out, but you will need to provide up-to-date contact details.

When you make your statement, police officers will make a risk assessment and activate appropriate protection measures. This may involve arresting the perpetrator. If this happens, adults can be held in police custody for up to 72 hours, by which time he must either appear before a judge or be released.

Gender violence courts

Specific Spanish courts specialise in criminal and civil responsibilities 鈥榝or acts that constitute crimes of gender violence鈥�. The same court initially assesses both the civil and criminal aspects of each case. Further courts in each autonomous region have a gender violence section, to make sure these types of cases are handled appropriately.

Each court handling gender violence cases has a Comprehensive Forensic Assessment Unit (or UVFI in Spanish). These units include a social worker, forensic pathologist and forensic psychologist to assess the forensic evidence (medical and psychological) and social impact of the violence. For example, they will assess the victim/perpetrator environment and circumstances. This evidence helps judges to make decisions about criminal and/or civil proceedings, as well as protection measures.

There must be a criminal prosecution case for gender violence for the 鈥榗ourts of instruction鈥� to adopt civil measures.

Legal aid and lawyers

All victims of gender violence in Spain are entitled to a legal aid lawyer, even if they are not resident in Spain or Spanish nationals. You can ask for a legal aid lawyer at the police station when you are giving your statement, and also at court.

When you arrive at court, the court officials should ask you if you want a legal aid lawyer. If the court officials do not ask you this question, you can ask at any time by saying: 鈥淨uiero solicitar asistencia juridica gratuita.鈥�

If you accept a legal aid lawyer, they will represent you throughout the investigation and court proceedings and can obtain updates for you. Your legal aid lawyer may not speak English. Read more about legal aid in Spain.

If you prefer, you can proceed without legal representation or appoint a private lawyer.

If you are not sure if you have been assigned a legal aid lawyer or you do not have their contact details, you can ask at the court. The British embassy or consulate can make this enquiry on your behalf.

Most courts also have a victim support office 鈥淥ficina de Ayuda a la Victima鈥�, usually located in the main court building. This office can advise you on your rights and what other support may be available.

If you do not want to report your gender violence matter to the police, you can still seek legal advice on your situation, particularly if children are involved. In many parts of Spain, you can contact your local Centro de Mujer (Women麓s Centre) by calling 016. If there are children involved and you are considering returning to the UK you may also wish to contact .

If you want advice from a private English-speaking lawyer, see the .

Support organisations in Spain

General and emergency helpline for domestic violence

• 112 (emergencies)
• 016 (general information) - legal assistance is also provided through this number between the hours of 8am to 10pm Monday to Sunday

016: helpline

Immediate 24-hour information, advice and assistance

Phone: 016 / Text: 900 116 016

Email: 016-online@igualdad.gob.es

Hours: 24/7

Services offered: Free confidential helpline offering information on social resources, financial aid, access to sheltered housing, employment advice, legislation on residence papers for foreigners, legal issues on criminal and civil affairs (children and family relations). Plan for dealing with and preventing domestic abuse among foreign immigrant populations. Can forward call to 112 in case of emergency.

English language: Yes.

• legal advice and representation (not counselling) for victims of domestic abuse
• support is largely provided over the phone, not in person

Town hall support

Most town halls have a councillor to support women, often have a section through the social services department to support victims of domestic abuse.

If you are on the town hall register (padron) at your local town hall, contact them directly to find out how they can help, or the nearest embassy or consulate can help you if you are unable to contact them yourselves.

UFAM

091 (emergencies)

National police unit (in large towns in Spain and Benidorm) dedicated to crimes of sexual assault, gender and domestic violence against women.

EMUME

062 (emergencies)

Guardia Civil unit (covering smaller towns) dedicated to cases of sexual assault, gender and domestic violence against woman and minors.

Samaritans in Spain

Available by telephone or email to speak to any English speaker who is experiencing emotional problems of any kind. More information on the .

Freephone from Spain: 900 525 100 between 10am to 10pm to talk to a trained listener in total confidence. pat@samaritansinspain.com

Regional support organisations

Each Spanish region has a list of local organisations and charities who can support domestic abuse victims:

• Alicante, Valencia and Castellon provinces and Murcia region
• Andalusia
• Catalonia
• Gran Canaria
• Ibiza and Formentera
• Madrid region
• Mallorca and Menorca
• Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro

Returning to the UK

If you are considering returning to the UK you may also wish to contact support organisations.

Organisation	Telephone number	Further information
	0808 2000 247	听
	0800 027 1234	听
	0800 80 10 800	听
	0808 802 1414	听
	080 2000 247	听
	0800 5999 247	Supports BAME women
	020 8571 0800	Supports BAME women
	0808 801 0327	Supports male victims and perpetrators
	听	Run by Women鈥檚 Aid to help children and young people understand domestic abuse.

Disclaimer

This information is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the British Embassy in Spain by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. Accordingly, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the British Embassy will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. British nationals wishing to obtain any further information must contact the relevant local authority.