The Embassy can help if you are a victim of crime.

What we can do to help

We can give general information about local police and legal procedures. We can’t give you legal advice, but can put you in touch with a local lawyer.

If you need medical treatment, we can help you to contact a local doctor.

Contacting friends and relatives

If you want us to, we can contact your relatives and friends and let them know what has happened. In some cases, we can offer financial assistance. 

We cannot collect evidence or investigate crimes ourselves, and in many countries investigating authorities and the courts will refuse to answer enquiries from other people and organisations, including our staff.

Local lawyer

So, you should consider appointing a local lawyer who can look after your interests in court, and follow any trial for you. We can give you a list of local English-speaking lawyers. We would not ordinarily attend a court case involving a British national and cannot influence the outcome of any trial.

Back in the UK, you may feel you would benefit from extra support to help you cope with the effects of the crime. Organisations such as Victim Support can help.

We have also produced a leaflet called  Victims of crime abroad  [PDF 329KB, new window] which offers more detailed information. 

You must report the case to the police authorities immediately in order to start the legal procedure. You can ask for assistance from your travel company to escort you to the Police station. You must also contact the British Embassy/ British Consulate. We can give general information about local police and legal procedures. We cannot give you legal advice but, we can point you in the right direction to get advice. If you need medical treatment, we can help you to contact a local doctor.

If you want us to, we can contact your relatives and friends and let them know what has happened.

We can contact your relatives and friends and let them know what has happened, if you want us to. However, we can not collect evidence or investigate crimes ourselves. We would not ordinarily go to a court case involving a British national and can not influence the outcome of any trial. Back in the UK, you may feel you would benefit from extra support to help you cope with the effects of the crime. Organisations such as Victim Support can help (www.victimsupport.org)

You will be asked to make a formal statement. You should either appoint a lawyer privately or a duty solicitor will be assigned by the court to assist you. Often duty lawyers will not speak English and may provide a minimal service. The court does have a duty to provide a translator, but in practise often the translator is not provided or their language skills are insufficient for this purpose. In order to determine the extent of any injuries you must be examined at a State hospital accompanied by police officers. Any medical report compiled will be used as evidence at court.

A privately appointed English speaking lawyer can follow your case and explain the legal system to you. If the prosecutor rules to open a case, then the court procedure will commence. You will be invited to attend court and again to make your statement with the Prosecutor present. At this point you will be asked for details of witnesses and any evidence you are able to provide.

Once a file is opened for your case at the courts, you’ll be notified about the hearing dates and any progress either by rogatory letters sent to your UK address or through your appointed solicitor. The Turkish authorities and the courts have no obligation to provide information about your case to third parties including, consular staff. Therefore it is important that you consider appointing a lawyer to represent you and follow your case at court.

This leaflet has been prepared by the British Embassy in Ankara for the convenience of enquirers.  Although all care has been taken in it's production, neither Her Majesty's Government nor any Consular Official in the British Embassy in Ankara take any responsibility for it's precise accuracy or for the consequences of any action taken in accordance with it's contents.


June 2008