Guidance

Information pack for British nationals arrested or detained in Croatia

Updated 20 March 2024

1. Key points

1.1 Overview

If you are a British national, and are arrested or detained in another country, consular staff will do what they can to help you. However, we cannot interfere with the local justice system, get you out of jail, or pay for services such as a lawyer. Information about who we can help, including the circumstances in which we can assist dual nationals, is available at: Support for British nationals abroad. You can also request a paper copy from consular staff.

This information pack aims to give you, and your family and friends, information about the local system in Croatia and who can help. Consular staff can provide a printed copy to those in prison or in custody. We welcome feedback to help us improve the information we can provide to others.

Contacting us

If you are arrested or detained in another country:

• the authorities should ask whether you want them to contact the British embassy, high commission or consulate (and must do so if you want them to)
• if they do not ask, you can make the request yourself. You should do this if you are charged with a serious offence or need any kind of assistance
• friends or family can also contact the local British embassy, high commission or consulate or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London on +44 (0)20 7008 5000

In some countries, the authorities might notify the British embassy, high commission or consulate even if you do not want anyone to know that you have been arrested. This is because there may be an agreement in place with the British government which requires a mandatory notification to be made.

Who we are

Consular staff work in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in the UK, and in British embassies, high commissions and consulates overseas.

The British Embassy in Croatia:
British Embassy Zagreb
Consular Section
Ivana Lucica 4
10000 Zagreb

Tel. +385 1 6009 100, then dial the option for British persons travelling or living overseas. Website: www.gov.uk/world/croatia

You can also contact us by phone 24/7 for help or advice from anywhere in the world by calling the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

What we can do

The FCDO can offer you impartial and non-judgemental help. When we are notified of your arrest or detention, we will aim to contact you as soon as possible, so that we can assess how we can help you. We then aim to provide assistance according to your individual circumstances and local conditions. Our priority is to provide assistance to those British nationals overseas that need our help the most.

In Croatia, the authorities will usually inform the Embassy of the arrest of a British national within a few days unless you have asked them not to. Even then, for certain crimes, the Croatian authorities will inform the Embassy via the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

We can also:

• provide a list of local English-speaking lawyers and interpreters. See also legal assistance: lawyers and legal aid
• provide general information about the country, detention conditions, and the local legal system (including if legal aid is available)
• provide general information about the local prison or remand system, including visiting arrangements, mail and censorship, privileges, and welfare services
• keep in regular contact with you, either through the Treatment Officer or by visiting. The frequency of contact will depend on local conditions and your personal circumstances
• tell the police or prison doctor, with your permission, about any medical or dental problems including medication
• put you, or your family, in touch with a prisoners’ welfare charity called Prisoners Abroad
• in some circumstances we may be able to help take up complaints with the police or prison authorities about ill treatment, personal safety, or discrimination, if you are not treated in line with internationally recognised standards
• help to transfer money to you from your friends or family
• in some circumstances we may be able to help you apply for a transfer to a prison in the UK

What we cannot do

• get you out of prison or detention
• help you get special treatment because you are British
• offer legal advice, start legal proceedings or investigate a crime
• pay for any costs because you have been arrested
• forward you packages sent by friends or family
• prevent authorities from deporting you after release

1.2 First steps

Informing family members

If you want us to, we can tell your family or friends that you have been detained and provide them with information about how to contact you. With your consent, we can also keep them updated on your wellbeing.

If you are not sure about informing your family, we can help you consider what the impact of not doing so might be. For example, it may cause them distress if they do not know where you are, or cannot contact you. It can also be a disadvantage to you if you need someone to send you money or act on your behalf while you are detained.

Informing the UK police

If you are accused of certain serious offences, such as sexual assault or drug trafficking, we are obliged to share information about your arrest with UK police. Information about this may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer. There may be other circumstances when information about you may need to be shared with authorities in Croatia.

Legal assistance: lawyers

We cannot give legal advice, start legal proceedings, or investigate a crime. However, we can provide information about the local legal system, including whether a legal aid scheme is available. We can also give you a list of local interpreters and a list of English-speaking lawyers. You should consider the benefits of local legal representation and discuss all the costs beforehand with the legal representative. We cannot pay your legal or interpretation costs in any circumstance.

Consular assistance: fair treatment

We cannot get you out of prison or detention, or get you special treatment because you are British. If you are not treated in line with internationally accepted standards, we will consider whether to approach the local authorities. This may include if your trial does not follow internationally recognised standards or is unreasonably delayed compared to local cases.

Other organisations that can provide assistance

We can put you, or your family, in touch with Prisoners Abroad, a UK charity which supports British citizens detained overseas and their families.

2. Detention conditions in Croatia

2.1 Visits: friends and family

Who can visit and how to arrange visits

You should consult FCDO travel advice before you travel to Croatia for the latest information on safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings.

In the investigation (pre-trial) stage of detention, prison visits are at the discretion of the investigating judge. Family members and others must get permission in writing from the investigating judge in order to visit you. We can help your family members to request this permission.

For prisoners who have been sentenced, visits are authorised by the prison Warden. The prison Treatment Officer or your local lawyer can advise you on this process.

In order to receive visitors, you should provide the prison with the names of the people you would like to visit you, so they can be added to your prison visiting list. Visitors must identify themselves with their passport when they enter the prison grounds. Passports will most probably be held by the prison guards and returned to the visitor when exiting the prison.

The frequency of visits, and the day and duration of visits, differ from prison to prison and depend on the prisoner’s age and whether in detention on remand or have been sentenced. In the majority of prisons in Croatia, family members are allowed to visit twice a month and on public holidays. Please check with the prison Treatment Officers, or with your lawyer, about when visits are allowed for the prison you are in.

The number of visitors may be limited to a number that guarantees safety and order and safety of visitors. The visit can be monitored for security reasons and the visitors will be informed accordingly.

What to expect when you visit

Visitors will be searched when entering the prison, and must bring their passport with them for identification purposes. The visit will most likely happen in a communal visiting area and there will be glass between the prisoner and the visitor. Guards will be present during the visit and will be able to hear the conversation.

Visits are usually allowed for 15 minutes at a time. A longer visit can be requested by consular staff, if you let the embassy know in advance when you are visiting.

Visits usually happen at the agreed time, but you might be asked to wait for security or other reasons. In some prisons there are vending machines, and you will need Euro coins to use them.

What you can take on your visit

Croatia has a large number of prison facilities and regulations about permitted items vary from one prison to another. The prison will have a list of prohibited items that cannot be sent or brought to you. Visitors and items can be searched. If the authorities suspect a visitor is trying to bring in prohibited items, a thorough personal search can be carried out. Food is usually not allowed, and you will have to give what you bring to the prison officer, not to the prisoner direct.

The Embassy can help your family to obtain the list of prohibited items from the prison.

Visits: consular staff

Consular staff will make initial contact with you usually through the prison Treatment Officers. Consular staff are not able to call you in prison, but you will be able to call the Embassy should you wish to. If you want to phone us, you should be able to do so, providing you have the telephone card with money on it you can use. To apply for a telephone card, ask the investigating judge (if in pre-trial detention) or the prison Treatment Officer (if you have been sentenced).

We will send you this Prisoner Pack, Prisoners Abroad forms (should you wish to apply for their assistance), and a consent form for the Embassy to be able to share information with your family members/friends. It is important that you fill in the consent form with the names and contact numbers of your family members and/or friends you would like us to share information with.

Please be aware that we are only able to assist you with welfare issues and not with the legal side of your case. If you have any questions about the legal system or your case in particular, please see the short explanation in this pack (page 20) or ask your lawyer. Let the prison Treatment Officer know if there are any welfare or any other general issues within the prison or if you have any medical issues.

We normally visit British nationals once after sentencing and then once a year if the sentence is longer. We will visit again if there are any special circumstances warranting a consular visit (for example, mistreatment or welfare issues).

Once we have received notification that you would like a visit, we will organise a visit as soon as possible after agreeing the visit with the court (if detained) and the prison management. In exceptional circumstances we might be able to arrange to speak with you over the phone with the help of the Treatment Officer instead.

You can write to us at any time on matters of concern at British Embassy Zagreb, Ivana Lučića 4, 10000 Zagreb – but if it is urgent it may be quicker to ask prison authorities to contact us on your behalf.

Emergency trips outside of prison

Detainees and prisoners in Croatia are able to make trips outside the prison only for emergency medical assistance and will be taken to the specialist doctor or a hospital by prison security officers. Trips for other reasons, including e.g. funerals or critical illness of a prisoner’s next of kin outside Croatia, will most likely not be allowed but permission can be sought from the Prison Warden as well as Ministry of Justice by the prisoner or their family.

The address for the Ministry of Justice is:

Ministarstvo Pravosuđa
Odjel za zatvorski sustav i probaciju
Ulica grad Vukovara 49
10000 Zagreb

2.2 Police custody and initial arrival at prison

Arriving at the police station: your basic rights

If you are arrested, you will be taken to a police station by the arresting officer within twenty four hours (twelve hours if it is suspected that you have committed a crime for which the sentence is one year imprisonment or less) and handed over to the detention supervisor.

You must immediately be given a written statement of rights by the police. Upon being presented with the written statement of rights, the police will make sure that you have understood the written statement of rights presented to you. If that is not the case, the police are obliged to inform you about your rights arising from the statement of rights in a way that you will understand them (orally with an interpreter etc. for free). Among other information provided to you in the statement of rights, you should be informed about:

• the allegations against you in general terms when you are arrested / the reasons of your arrest
• your right to have an lawyer of your own choice (or for an lawyer from the list in the Croatian Bar Association to be appointed to you, if you do not have a lawyer)
• your right for the rights and other circumstances regarding the arrest to be explained and translated
• the right for one call to your family or a third person of your choosing to be informed of your arrest
• your right, as a foreign citizen, that the relevant consulate or embassy is informed immediately upon your arrest and your right to contact the relevant consulate or embassy without delay
• the right to review your case
• the right to medical aid
• the fact that the time period from your arrest until you are presented before the prosecutor cannot be more than 48 hours or 36 hours (if you are arrested for committing a crime for which the relevant legislation regulates a sentence of one year in prison or less)

If you do not understand the provisions of the statement of rights or you do not speak Croatian, the arresting officer/police must make certain that you fully understood the statement of rights. Therefore you have to be provided with an official court interpreter before the interrogation starts. In case you have not been provided and/or understood the statement of rights in full, everything you said during interrogation as well as the evidence acquired that way cannot be used in the criminal proceedings as evidence.

You have the right to a lawyer of your choosing. The interrogation will be on hold for the time until your lawyer arrives. Should your lawyer fail to show up or is not able to show up in the three hours following your demand for the lawyer of your choosing, you have the right for a lawyer from the list of the Croatian Bar Association’s lawyers which are on “duty” exactly for such purposes to be assigned to you.

If you waive your right to a lawyer at the beginning of your interrogation, you can change your mind and state that you would like to appoint one later. The interrogation should at that point be suspended immediately. However, if your lawyer does not arrive within two hours from the moment when you stated you would like to retain a lawyer, the interrogation could continue without them with this fact being stated in the minutes of the interrogation.

Once started, the interrogation will be recorded with an audio-visual device. This recording must have a record of you receiving and understanding the statement of rights as well as your statements. You must also be notified that your interrogation is being recorded and that the record may be used in the criminal proceedings as evidence. Along with the recording, the interrogating officer will conduct minutes of your recorded questioning. You must be asked if you would like an interpreter present before the police interrogation begins. If the police wish to take a statement from you, and you do not speak Croatian, this must be done with an official court interpreter present.

You have the right to remain silent, i.e. you are not required to present your defence or provide the police with any answer to questions.

Legal aid is available to Croatian citizens with extremely small or no income. All foreigners are provided with the state appointed lawyer free of charge.

Appearing at court

The first hearing to which you will be brought from detention is the hearing conducted before the investigating judge regarding custody.

If the investigating judge has reasonable suspicion/doubt that you have committed a criminal offence and there are additional special circumstances justifying the custody, you may be initially kept in custody for a month for the purpose of carrying out the investigation (collect evidence, get statements from witnesses, expert witnesses, run laboratory tests, etc.). This period can be extended for another two or more months, depending on the complexity of your case. This extension is decided by the investigating judge, but must be suggested by the state attorney.

As a general rule, the maximum total time period for which you can be held in custody until you are indicted for lesser crimes is up to six months (see below for information about the length of custody).

When the above-mentioned time period elapses, you are to be set free from custody or be sentenced.

The maximum custody period, before a first instance court judgment is passed, cannot exceed:

• two months if you are accused of an offence for which you face less than a year in prison
• three months if you are accused of an offence for which you face less than three years in prison
• six months if you are accused of an offence for which you face less than five years in prison
• twelve months if you are accused of an offence for which you face less than eight years in prison
• two years if you are accused of an offence for which you face more than eight years in prison
• three years if you are accused of an offence for which you could be sentenced to a long-term imprisonment

If you are sentenced, the time you spent in custody is taken off your final sentence.

You will be charged by the prosecutor’s office and if you cannot afford a private lawyer the Croatian government will appoint a public defender for you for free. If later on you wish to hire a different lawyer, the case will be transferred to the new lawyer. Your state appointed lawyer is paid by the state and should provide the same level of service relating to the court proceedings as a paid lawyer. Please check directly with the lawyer about whether any of the services he proposes to do come free of charge or will carry a fee. If you are not happy with the service you receive from the state appointed lawyer, you or your family can hire and pay another lawyer of your choice to represent you. In such case you will be asked to sign a power of attorney to the lawyer of your choice, they will take it to the court and become your legal representative. Consular staff cannot recommend particular lawyers, but we can share with you and your family a list of English-speaking lawyers in Croatia.

Your lawyer’s role is to advise you, and to represent your interests by ensuring that your rights are protected, and by making any applications or appeals that may be helpful to your defence.

Your lawyer is also entitled to make certain requests, including requests to have certain types of evidence gathered, to present evidence, or to request evidence gathered by the investigative authorities not to be used at trial.

More information about the rights of detainees/prisoners can be found at the Fair Trials website.

Initial arrival at the prison

When a judge orders detention, the person is taken to a prison. Any belongings that are not part of the investigation, process or evidence will be sent to the prison, if the prison has enough space to keep them. It is unfortunately not unusual for some belongings to go missing after arrest or during prison transfers. If not part of the investigation, the prison will not be able to keep your vehicle safe whilst you are detained.

The British Embassy cannot store your personal belongings on your behalf. The only property we can keep for you are your passport and driver’s licence. However, these are usually retained at the courts until the end of your sentence. Please note that your passport might be kept by the courts as evidence of the alleged crime or as a condition for your bail/parole. This measure is taken by the courts to prevent you from breaking your bail conditions.

You will not be able to inform family members or others immediately after being detained in the remand prison as you need a prison phone card to be able to make a call. You will be informed of your right to contact your Embassy.

Upon admission to prison, you will undergo a thorough personal search. Items you are not allowed to hold during pre-trial detention shall be confiscated.

Medical checks will be carried out by the prison doctor in order to assess if you need any treatment for ongoing medical conditions (e.g. blood pressure, diabetes, HIV).

You will be allowed to have items for personal use in the remand prison: for example, underwear, clothes and shoes, bed linen (sheets, pillows, blankets and towels), glasses, watch, wedding ring, ring, necklace, bracelet, orthopaedic aids, photographs, accessories for writing, medical and records relating to the criminal case, cigarettes and smoking accessories, personal hygiene items and accessories (except bottles under pressure), radio etc., in a quantity and size that does not interfere with the stay in the room and does not disturb the house rules and security, and after a detailed search of the items.

Basic toiletries are provided by the prison authorities and more can be bought from the prison shop if money is added to your prison card, or family/friends send money to the prison.

Mobile phones are not allowed. If you are caught trying to use a mobile phone inside the prison you will face disciplinary action according to the prison’s regulations.

2.3 Prison: conditions and daily life

General conditions in Croatian prisons are basic and can be compared to those in the UK. You can read more about the police and prison conditions in the report made by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)(PDF,1.27MB).

Accommodation

Sentenced prisoners and those on remand are held separately in Croatian prisons. Overcrowding is usually a problem, so you cannot expect to be in a cell on your own as a matter of course. There may be five or more people in one cell. You should also be aware that the conditions of toilets and showers are rather basic.

Croatian prisons will provide basic toiletries, standard clothing, a bed (usually bunk beds) with a mattress, bedding and a blanket; other items can be purchased with your own money directly from the prison shop or brought to you by your family, if so permitted by the prison authorities. Normally, items that can be bought at the prison shop cannot be brought by the family. Some prisons might not provide basic toiletries for those who are in investigative detention and will only issue these to sentenced prisoners. There will be electricity, running water, toilets and wash basins in the cells. There should be natural light in all cells.

If there are issues with the conditions in the prison you can let the Embassy know and we will try to help you as much as we can. Please note we are not able to ask for you to have better conditions than others in the prison.

Food and diet

Prisoners are offered three meals a day (or more if under 21) and the diet is usually balanced, including carbohydrates, protein, fruit and vegetables. Special diets are available once agreed with the prison doctor and the Treatment Officer, based on medical needs, lifestyle (vegetarian etc.) or religious reasons. There are usually some food products at the prison shop that prisoners are allowed to buy on certain days depending to the roster for shopping. Prisoners do not generally need to supplement their diet in order to remain in good health in Croatian prisons. Water in Croatia can be drunk from the tap and is of a general good quality.

If you have any special dietary requirements and are not able to get them in prison yourself, you can inform your Treatment Officer. You can also let consular staff know and we can speak to the prison authorities on your behalf. Please note that the Embassy is not able to order the prison to do anything or change their rules.

Hygiene

There is a roster as to when each prisoner can shower and it depends on how the prison is organised. Showers are usually communal and are generally of basic quality. Basic toiletries are usually provided by the prison authorities and anything else allowed in prison can be bought from the prison shop.

Work and study

Some Croatian prisons offer work opportunities for prisoners after being sentenced. Some prisons offer work opportunities outside of the prison for long term prisoners. Work is not compulsory, but if there is an opportunity for work and you decide to work, you should be paid for it and a portion of what you earn will be saved for when you are released. The type of work available and pay are different in each prison and you should ask your Treatment Officer for more information.

Some prisons offer educational courses to prisoners in Croatian. We are not aware of the possibility to study in English. You should ask the Treatment Officer if study is available in your prison, or if they would accept for you to do a distance learning course in English.

Contact and languages

Contact with other prisoners is not punished or restricted, however if you have been arrested with other persons you are likely to not be able to be in the cell with them or be able to talk to them. Otherwise, groups of prisoners are able to talk during their daily walks outside, but you might not be able to see all prisoners at the same time.

Prisoners are likely to be put in a cell with other English-speaking inmates, unless there is a reason not to. Prisons want prisoners to be able to communicate and have generally as good a lifestyle as possible.

Guards usually do not speak good English but might speak some English so that you are able to communicate basic things. Fellow prisoners might be able to help you with translation if they speak English. Prisons usually do not provide language lessons, but the Embassy can send you a Croatian phrasebook and/or dictionary. You can also use the small list of words and phrases at the end of this pack, which we hope will be of use to you.

Prisoners do not have access to mobile phones, but are able to phone the numbers that have either been allowed by the judge if you are detained, or by the prison if you have already been sentenced. If you are in investigative detention you must submit a written request to the judge to allow calls to certain numbers and persons, usually your close family members, the Embassy and your lawyer. Usually there is access to a pay phone and you will need to use the prison card you are issued with. The phone may be used on certain days at certain times but your calls will be restricted to a certain amount of minutes per week. The minutes per week allocated to a prisoner varies depending on the evaluation of the prisoner by the prison authorities (usually 10-15 minutes). Usually calls to the Embassy and you lawyer are not deducted from your telephone minutes allowance. The prison will provide you with the exact information about how to make a call.

Simple writing material can usually be bought from the prison shop. Prisoners do not have internet access in prisons in Croatia.

Prisons might have a small library with a small amount of books in English. There is the possibility to request local language materials through the post from Prisoners Abroad (including language textbooks and dictionaries). The embassy can also send you a couple of books should you wish.

You might be able to buy books, magazines and newspaper in the prison shop but in Croatian only. Some prisons allow TVs and radios in the cell (one TV and one radio per cell) but will not provide them.

Generally speaking, being involved with activities or work within prison is looked upon favourably by the prison authorities.

You can request local language materials through the post from Prisoners Abroad (including language textbooks and dictionaries).

Exercise

Prisoners and detainees are allowed to walk outside daily. The amount of time granted will depend on whether you are being held before trial or after sentencing. There might be sports or other activities that you could join, and you could check availability of these with your Treatment Officer. Some prisons have gyms.

Climate

The climate in Croatia is different depending on where you are. If you are in a prison inland in the continental part of Croatia, summers tend to be very hot (hotter than the UK) and winters very cold with minus temperatures and snow. If you are in a prison on the Croatian coast, summers are also very hot but winters are mild, like in the UK or milder. Prisons should provide you with clothing adequate for the part of Croatia you are in.

Religion

Prisoners are entitled to take part in religious services of their choice and prisons will try to accommodate your needs. Visits from a priest, rabbi, imam or other minister of faith have to be agreed with the prison Treatment Officer.

Rules and regulations (including drugs)

The prison authorities want to create as safe an environment as possible. Rules and regulations will be explained by the Treatment Officers and, if you are not sure, you should ask the Treatment Officer for information. There might be sanctions applied for failing to follow the rules, for example if someone starts a fight with another prisoner in the cell they are likely to be removed from that cell. Insulting or abusing prison staff might be considered as an attack on an official person and result in sanctions.

There is a reward/ranking system with the possibility to earn privileges for good behaviour. For example, sometimes prisoners who take up job opportunities inside prison can earn more time spent outside or in the gym.

It is widely known that drug trafficking between prisoners is widespread. Prison staff will carry out random drug checks and if you are caught with any kind of illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine, etc.) you will face disciplinary action. Tobacco and cigarettes are allowed inside Croatian prisons.

Prisons might test prisoners for drugs and all incoming parcels are checked so that items that are not allowed in prison do not reach prisoners.

2.4 Prison: access to help and services

Receiving money

There are 2 ways you may be able to receive financial assistance while in prison:

• private funds: deposited to you by your family or friends
• Prisoners Abroad: depending on where you are detained, if your family cannot support you financially, Prisoners Abroad may be able to send you a small grant every quarter for essentials (enough for one hot meal a day)

The UK government does not provide financial assistance to prisoners.

Private funds

While the FCDO does not provide financial assistance to prisoners, we may be able, within certain limits, to send you money from your family or friends. Please note that you cannot have cash sent to you in the post.

The FCDO operates a ‘Prison Comfort’ system for money transfers to prisoners. Ask your family or friends to get in touch with the FCDO to arrange this.

We cannot receive payment by credit or debit card, or by cash.

Prisoners are able to receive money directly from family members into a prison bank account. There are specific details for sending money to different prisons in Croatia so please contact the British Embassy in Zagreb and consular staff will explain the procedure.

Prisoners Abroad

Prisoners Abroad may be able to assist you with funding for prison essentials and some medical care if you are not receiving regular funding from other sources.

Medical and dental treatment

While you are detained, the Croatian state is responsible for ensuring your basic medical needs are met. If you need medical or dental treatment you should ask to see the prison doctor or a dentist. You can do this by making a request to your Treatment Officer or by filling in a form to see a doctor. Depending on the number of patients, you will usually see a doctor within a couple of days. Medical assistance is free of charge, but the doctor may not speak English. There are no dentists in prisons, so if approved you will be taken to a dentist outside the prison.

Prison doctors are often the equivalent of GPs in the UK, so unusual or complex problems may be referred to a specialist/hospital outside the prison. Medicine is available in prisons. Referral to private hospitals is not possible within the public health system.

If you have a long-standing medical problem and have received treatment for it in the UK, it may be useful if you have your medical records, or at least a report, sent to the prison from your doctor in the UK. With your permission, your UK doctor can send the report, via the Embassy, addressed to you. If you need to be hospitalised, you will be taken to the Prison Hospital in Zagreb, or to a public general hospital if treatment is not available at the Prison Hospital, and the prison authorities will make the necessary arrangements regarding security.

While in prison, medical treatments are free of charge. If you need a treatment that you need to wait for within the public health system, you can choose to go to a private clinic, but you will need to pay the cost of the treatment and you will need to have enough money in your prison account.  The doctor can advise you about any medication you may need.

Prisons usually have psychologists but not psychiatrists. Prisoners who need to see a psychiatrist will be referred to an external provider. Prison Treatment Officers are trained to recognise mental health issues and will refer prisoners to the prison doctor for advice.

If prisoners need glasses and do not have them, they can ask to be seen by an ophthalmologist and can get glasses.

In the case of a medical emergency, prisoners should alert the prison guards immediately.

With your permission, we can make sure that any medical or dental problems you might have, are brought to the attention of the prison doctor. With your consent, we can also contact your GP in the UK on your behalf if the prison doctor requests previous medical records.

Letters and parcels

You have the right to send and receive letters. There is usually no limit to the number of letters you may send or receive. Prison authorities are obliged to deliver letters to you with the minimum possible delay. Please be aware that letters are subject to censorship by the judge in the detention stage and the prison warden in the serving a sentence stage. This can be a slow process because both inward and outward letters need to be translated. As a rule, paperback books and magazines are not censored. However, a particular book or magazine/publication may be withheld if its circulation is not allowed in Croatia.

Stationery and stamps are usually available in the prison shop and you will need to buy them. If not, your family may be able to help you obtain them. You can receive parcels from your family. The sender should address the letter/parcel writing your full name, surname and the full address for the prison on the front; including their own address on the back.

Please be aware that all mail and parcels should be sent directly to the prison; the Embassy is not able to receive mail or parcels for you.

Consular staff should reply to your written correspondence within 20 working days, but we aim to do it sooner (excluding postage time and the time it takes the judge or the prison to check it).

Telephone calls

If you are in investigative detention you must submit a written request to the judge to allow you to make calls to certain numbers and persons, usually your close family members, the Embassy and your lawyer. If you have been sentenced, you should ask the prison authorities to allow you to call certain numbers and they will decide which ones you can or cannot call. International calls are allowed providing you have enough money on your phone card. Usually there is access to a pay phone and you need to use your prison card which you will be issued with and will be able to use if you have money on the card (the same card might be used for phone calls and buying goods from the prison shop). You will be able to use the phone according to the prison roster (certain times on certain days), but you will be restricted to a certain amount of minutes per week. The minutes per week allocated to a prisoner vary depending on the evaluation of the prisoner by the prison authorities (usually 10-20 minutes). Usually calls to the Embassy and your lawyer are not deducted from your weekly minutes allowance. The prison will provide you with the exact information about how to make a call.

Mobile phones are not allowed. If you are caught trying to use a mobile phone inside the prison you will face disciplinary action according to the prison’s regulations.

Making a complaint about mistreatment

If you have been mistreated, try to see a doctor, obtain a medical report and if possible get photos of your injuries. You should inform consular staff as soon as it is safe for you to do so. We will then do our best to visit you, to check on your welfare, discuss the allegations, and explain any local complaints procedures and support organisations you may wish to consider.

With your permission, and where appropriate, we will consider approaching the local authorities if you have not been treated in line with internationally - accepted standards.

If you wish to file a complaint you can do so by writing to the prison Warden and/ or the Prison System Directorate Head Office in Zagreb. The Embassy can provide advice on how to do this.

The contact details for the Prison System Directorate Head Office in Zagreb are:

Ministarstvo Pravosuđa
Odjel za zatvorski sustav i probaciju
Ulica grad Vukovara 49
10000 Zagreb

If you want to complain about mistreatment by the police you might wish to do it in writing to the local police or the Ministry of Interior in Zagreb. If you are in investigative detention you might wish to write directly to the judge who is in charge of your case.

It would be useful to let us know during the consular visit or by phone if you are sending a complaint as we may be contacted about your complaint. We may also be able to help you in providing you with the local police contact details.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, the Embassy may be able to provide advice on how to take your complaint to a higher level.

3. The Croatian judicial system

3.1 Overview

The Croatian judicial system is based on the Roman law, whereas the British one is based on common law. Common law refers to law developed by judges through decisions of courts that are called precedent. Roman law, or civil law, differs from common law in that is based solely on a legal code instead of precedent.

The following chart shows the Croatian judicial system.

The following courts are regular courts (dealing with crimes):

• Vrhovni sud Republike Hrvatske = Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia
• Županijski sudovi = County Courts (dealing with serious crimes – sentences of more than 5 years) – first instance and with the appeals in case tried at the Municipal Courts – second instance
• Općinski sudovi = Municipal Courts (dealing with crimes for which the law prescribes penalties up to 5 years imprisonment) – first instance

The following courts are specialised courts (dealing with minor offences):

• Visoki trgovački sud RH = High Commercial Court of the Republic of Croatia
• Trgovački sudovi = Commercial Courts
• Visoki prekršajni sud RH = High Misdemeanour Court of the Republic of Croatia
• Prekršajni sudovi = Misdemeanour Courts
• Visoki upravni sud RH = High Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia
• Upravni sudovi = Administrative Courts

The FCDO cannot interfere with the judicial system. We cannot ask for your case to be judged more quickly just because you are British, or ask the authorities to waive any penalties.

3.2 First steps

What should happen after you are arrested

You will be taken to a police station first; it is possible that you will spend one night (or two in case of being arrested on a weekend) in the cell at a police station; then you will be taken to a custody officer who in turn will bring you before an investigative judge within 48 hours.

At the moment of your arrest you should be made aware of your rights; one of them is to have a police officer call a family member of your choice or the Embassy so you can speak to them. International numbers are allowed. Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations you should be asked by the police if you wish the British Embassy to be informed of your arrest. If you are not asked, then you can request the police to inform the Embassy of your arrest. In some cases the police will automatically inform the Embassy, without asking you.

The police will want to take a statement from you. This has to be done with an official sworn court interpreter present so that you understand what is being said. If at any point you are asked to sign documents you do not understand, you have the right to request for them to be translated into English. This will prolong the process but you will be sure about what you are signing.

When you are brought to the court, the investigative judge makes the decision on your detention. If the investigative judge has reasonable doubt that you have committed a crime or that if not detained there is a chance you may flee the country, they will decide to remand you in custody for one month for the purpose of carrying out the investigation (collect evidence, get statements from witnesses, expert witnesses, run lab tests, etc.). If the investigation is not completed within one month, the investigative judge might prolong the investigation period for another two months and in some complex cases, for an additional 3 months. Charges against you must be made within the maximum period of 6 months (This period can be prolonged in case of crimes described in the Croatian Act on Prevention Corruption and Organised Crime).

You will be charged by the State Prosecutor’s office and in most instances the Croatian government will appoint a public defender for you for free.

The courts will inform you, your lawyer/ state appointed lawyer and the prison authorities of your charges. If you don’t have a private lawyer you will be assisted by a state appointed lawyer who will put forward requests for benefits such as bail, etc.

If you have any questions on the legal aspects of your arrest, contact your lawyer. See for a list of local English-speaking lawyers.

How long you can be remanded in custody

You can be held on remand in custody (pre-trial) in a prison up to the maximum of six months. Initially the investigative judge sets one month’s detention as a period for the investigations to be completed, witnesses heard and evidence gathered. In complex crimes this can be prolonged for another two months and in some exceptional cases for an additional three months. Hearings usually take place three to six months from the date of arrest, although in some cases this may be longer. The time spent in remand will eventually be calculated into the sentence.

Bail is decided upon by the investigative judge and the possibility to be released on bail depends on the type of the crime. Your lawyer /state appointed lawyer will be best placed to advise on this matter and put motions for bail to the judge.

Prisoners on remand and sentenced prisoners: differences

Pre-trial and sentenced prisoners are kept in the same prisons but not together. Some rights are different, for instance pre-trial prisoners have less time to walk outside on a daily basis than sentenced prisoners.

After you are charged

The courts will inform you, your lawyer/ state appointed lawyer, and the prison authorities of your charges. Your lawyer will be able to explain your rights, e.g. any right of appeal. All court decisions will be translated into English before they send them to you.

Bail

Most crimes have provision for bail in Croatia. Your lawyer /state appointed lawyer will be best placed to advise on this matter and put motions for bail to the judge. The possibility and the amount of bail depends on the severity of the crime as well as likelihood that the person will flee the country. Bail is offered to foreigners too but the court usually issues precautionary measures of not being able to leave the country, having to report to the police several times a week and the authorities may retain your passport. If someone out on bail fails to adhere to their bail conditions, a police/Interpol warrant will be issued in their name.

Bail can be paid at the post office, bank, the FINA (Financial Agency) offices, or by internet banking once the bail payment details are given by the court. The Embassy can help your family to find out the necessary details from the court.

The Embassy can help prisoners contact friends and family who may be willing to help. If your situation changes whilst on bail and you can no longer support yourself financially, you can ask your lawyer to ask the court to put you back in detention.

The FCDO cannot transfer bail funds.

3.3 Trial and legal assistance

Legal assistance: lawyers and legal aid

If you wish to hire a private lawyer, here is a list of local English-speaking lawyers. Prisoners Abroad can also supply general (non-country specific) information on legal aid, court proceedings and can advise on appointing a lawyer.

You can hire a lawyer for yourself at any time after your arrest. Normally, if you hire a private lawyer they will ask for an advance of their estimated legal fees before they will take on your case. The British Embassy cannot pay legal fees, give legal advice or guarantee to a lawyer that you will pay them.

Alternatively, your case will be taken by a state appointed lawyer, and if later on you wish to hire a different lawyer, the case will be transferred to the new lawyer. Your state appointed lawyer is paid by the state and should provide the same level of service relating to the court proceedings as a paid lawyer. Please check directly with the lawyer about whether any of the services he proposes to do come free of charge or will carry a fee. If you are not happy with the service you receive from the state appointed lawyer, you or your family can hire and pay another lawyer of your choice to represent you. In such case you will be asked to sign a power of attorney to the lawyer of your choice, they will take it to the court and become your legal representative. Your family will be able to agree with the lawyer on how to transfer legal fees to them.

Legal aid is available to Croatian citizens with extremely small or no income. All foreigners are provided with the state appointed lawyer free of charge.

Trial

You will be asked to attend the Court trial, which is when the judge will either free you or sentence you to serve time in prison, based on the evidence they were presented with. Your lawyer has to be present too, as well as the sworn court interpreter, who has to translate everything that is being said so that you understand what is going on. If you do not understand the translation you can ask for an explanation. If you speak Croatian there will likely not be an interpreter present. The judge will have examined the evidence the State Prosecutor has brought to support their charge against you, and will also have your statement from when you were arrested, or from a subsequent hearing if there was one (or more) and in case they needed a further statement from you. In agreement with your lawyer, you may plead guilty or not guilty. The judge will deliberate and bring a decision based on the evidence they were presented with.

Local authorities are inclined to speed up legal processes including for foreign nationals, but for serious crimes it can take longer than expected for cases to be brought to trial.

If, as a party to a court proceeding, you consider that the court has not ruled on your right within a reasonable time, you are entitled to legal protection and compensation.

If you are a party to a court proceeding and you consider that the court has not ruled within a reasonable time on your right, obligation, suspicion or charge of a criminal offense, you are entitled to legal protection.

According to established practice, the court proceedings should be finalised within three years of their initiation.

Sentences

Sentences vary greatly in Croatia and will depend on the seriousness of the crime. Your lawyer/ state appointed lawyer will be best placed to advise you on length of sentences and on appeals processes. British nationals will not automatically be deported to the UK upon release, but might be depending on the Ministry of Justice’s decision. See more under ‘What are the procedures for release and deportation’ below.

Appeals

You have the right to appeal against your sentence in the Higher Courts through your lawyer or state appointed lawyer. Usually the deadline for an appeal is from 15 to 30 days, depending on the charge. The deadline starts when you receive the translated Decision (Rješenje) form the court. It is usual for the lawyer/state appointed lawyer to appeal against your first sentence. However, the appeal process is usually very slow. In such cases a lawyer’s opinion of the case is strongly recommended before proceeding.

If there is new evidence that you and your lawyer want to present to the court after you have been sentenced, then your lawyer must put a motion to the court for such evidence to be accepted and looked into. You do not have a right to a state appointed lawyer after the trial has finished and you have been sentenced, so you are best to employ either the same lawyer you had during the trial or a new one. You will need to pay for that lawyer’s services. A lawyer will be able to explain to you if the evidence you have could be considered as grounds for appeal. The prosecution also have the right to appeal a judgement, and it is common practice for them to do it if they consider a sentence to be too small for the crime.

3.4 Reaching the end of your sentence

Reduction of sentence (remission)

Prisoners may apply to be released before having served the entire sentence, but only after one half of the sentence has been served. The application is made to the prison authorities who, if they deem early release is justifiable due to good behaviour, etc., in turn put their proposal for the early release to the Court for its approval.

Early release

In Croatia, early release is possible after at least three quarters of your sentence have been served. Parole is not granted automatically and you have to apply for early release yourself or with the help from a lawyer. The requirements to apply for parole are defined by law and you can find out more information from your lawyer or the prison staff. Embassy staff can help you understand who you need to send your application to.

Clemency or pardon

In Croatia, pardon/ clemency can only be given by the President on the proposal of her/ his delegates such as Ministers, the State Prosecutor, etc. A pardon/ clemency means that although the prison sentence will end the person will still have a criminal record.

Financial penalties

The Croatian authorities can waive any financial penalties attached to prison sentences imposed on foreigners, but please check about your particular case with your lawyer.

Transfer to another prison within Croatia

If you have been tried and sentenced and you still have at least six months left to serve, you will be sent to the Prison Diagnostic Centre in Zagreb where you will stay for several weeks. The prison specialists will decide in which Croatian prison you will serve the remaining part of your sentence.

In Croatia there are no specific prisons for foreigners. You might be sent back to the same prison where you were in detention, but it does not have to be that same one. Please note that the Embassy cannot ask the Croatian authorities to send you to a particular prison.

Transfer to a prison in the UK

It is possible for British nationals to ask to be transferred to a UK prison. British nationals, who are prisoners in Croatia, can apply for a prison transfer to serve the remainder of their sentence in the UK if all parties agree and all conditions are met.

Your family can see the conditions and other details in FCDO’s online the in prison abroad - transfer to a UK prison advice.

To transfer to the UK, you must:

• be a British national or have close family ties with the UK (normally through permanent residence in the UK)
• not be awaiting trial
• have exhausted all appeals against your conviction and/or the length of your sentence; or have waived your right to an appeal
• have at least 6 months of your sentence left to serve when you apply for transfer
• have no outstanding fines or other non-custodial penalties

The offence you were convicted for must also be a criminal offence in the part of the UK you wish to be transferred to: England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The authorities in the sentencing country may refuse your request. Even if the sentencing country agrees to your transfer, the UK authorities may also refuse your request. Reasons for this might include if you have not lived in the UK for a number of years and you have no close family living there.

You can submit a request to be transferred to a UK prison to the court which decided in your case, and they will send all documents to the Croatian Ministry of Justice. The Croatian Ministry of Justice then sends your application for transfer to HMPPS (His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service), who then need to agree the transfer with the Croatian Ministry of Justice. If both sides agree then an arrangement is made for your transfer. Please note that your family or the embassy will not be told when exactly you will be transferred for security reasons.

Release and deportation

When a British prisoner finishes serving their sentence in Croatia, they are released from prison and are free to go. However, in case the Croatian Ministry of Interior Affairs (police) issues an expulsion order, the ex-prisoner must leave Croatia within the ordered period of time. In case they fail to do so, Croatian authorities might decide to take them to the nearest border and they will get an invoice for expenses incurred related to the expulsion, and would not be able to return to Croatia before this invoice is paid. Long-term residents should be able to stay in the country at the end of their sentence unless the court or the police also impose a ban from entering Croatia.

Sometimes people find that they face difficulties adjusting to life in the UK once they have left prison. You may find yourself ready for life on the outside but not prepared for living in the UK. You may not have lived in the UK before and have no connections there, or perhaps you have lost touch with friends and family. You may want to talk to another person who understands what you have been through, to help you consider what to do next.

If you are registered with Prisoners Abroad, you can visit Prisoners Abroad when you first arrive back in UK for advice, to use their temporary luggage store, make essential phone calls or use a computer. If you have no belongings Prisoners Abroad may be able to help with basic toiletries and finding suitable clothing. If you know your release date in advance you should tell the Prisoner and Family Support Team when you are likely to arrive and what help you think you might need. If you have no money and nowhere to go, Prisoners Abroad’s Resettlement Service can help with:

• advice on finding emergency accommodation in the London area
• claiming welfare benefits, including emergency benefit payments if you are destitute
• making appointments with doctors and dentists
• putting you in touch with local agencies if you are not returning to the London area

Later on you may want advice on housing, looking for work, applying for training or getting counselling. Prisoners Abroad can refer you to the right agency.

Other sources of practical help back in the UK are:

The Salvation Army

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7367 4888

Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm, or contact your local Salvation Army branch

The Prison Fellowship

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7799 2500

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Your criminal record in the UK

We will not normally pass on information about your case to a third party without your consent. However, if you’re arrested for certain serious offences, such as child sex abuse or drug crimes, our staff must tell other relevant UK authorities. It is possible that information about this may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer.

4. Additional information

4.1 Additional information

Prisoners Abroad

Since 1978 the charity Prisoners Abroad has offered practical support and advice to British citizens imprisoned abroad. It is the only UK charity providing this service. It is available to all, whether guilty or innocent, convicted or awaiting charge or trial. Prisoners Abroad supports your health and welfare during your imprisonment. It can also provide support on your return to the UK, through their resettlement service (if you have registered whilst in prison). They can also provide support and advice to your family when you are in prison. To access any services, you must first register with Prisoners Abroad by signing and returning their authorisation form.

Once you seek help from Prisoners Abroad, the Prisoner & Family Support Service will be your point of contact for advice and information. The type of assistance they can offer varies from country to country, but generally they can provide you with information, in English, on:

• your rights as a prisoner
• issues that may affect you such as health or transfer to the UK
• getting magazines, newspapers, books and the regular Prisoners Abroad newsletter
• learning the language of your country of imprisonment
• translating documents
• grants for food if you are in a developing country and do not have funds from other sources
• grants for essential medicines and toiletries if you do not have funds from other sources
• preparing for release
• help for your loved ones, including information, family support groups and, in a few cases, assistance with the cost of visiting
• freepost envelopes to help you stay in touch with others

Prisoners Abroad

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7561 6820 or 0808 172 0098
Mondays to Fridays 9:30am to 4:30pm (UK time)
89 – 93 Fonthill Road
London N4 3JH
UK

Email: [email protected] Website: www.prisonersabroad.org.uk

4.3 Glossary of terms

Useful legal terms

Adjudication	Presuda
Administration of justice	Izvršenje pravde
Appeal	Žalba / Žalbeni postupak
Application	Aplikacija, zahtjev, zamolba
Application forms (prison)	Obrazac za zamolbu (zatvorski)
Army	Vojska
Bar Association	Odvjetnička komora
Blood test	vađenje krvi
Charge	Optužba
Police Officer	Policijski službenik
Chief Prosecutor	Glavni tužitelj
Chief Public Prosecutor	Glavni državni odvjetnik
Civil party in criminal trial	Građanska strana u kaznenom postupku
Code of criminal procedure	Krivični zakonik
Complaints system	Sustav reklamacija, pritužbi
Completed file	Završeni predmet
Compulsory prosecution	Progon po službenoj dužnosti
Conjugal Visit	Bračni posjet
Court file reference	broj sudskog predmeta
Criminal code	Kazneni zakon
Criminal Court	Kazneni sud
Criminal prosecution by victim	Kazneni progon od strane žrtve
Custody hearing	Saslušanje / Rasprava
Custody officer	pritvorski nadzornik
Custody order	Nalog o zadržavanju / pritvoru
Danger of interfering with the course of justice	Opasnost od utjecaja na tijek sudjenja
Danger of repeated criminal offences	Opasnost od ponavljanja kaznenog djela
Deportation order	Nalog o deportaciji
Evaluation of evidence	Evaluacija dokaza
Expert Witness	Sudski vještak
Extradition	Ekstradicija
Border Police	Granična policija
Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution	Ustavni sud
Police	Policija
Prosecutions Office	Ured državnog odvjetnika
File	Predmet
Guilty	Kriv
High Court	Vrhovni sud
Higher Regional Court	Županijski sud
Imprisonment after conviction	Zatvorska kazna nakon izricanja presude
Interpreter	Tumac
Investigative Judge	Sudac istrage
Judge	Sudac
Judgement	Presuda
Jurisdiction	Nadležnost
Juvenile prison rules	Zatvorska pravila za maloljetnike
Law	pravo; zakon
Lawyer	odvjetnik
Legal remedy	pravni lijek
Local Bar Association	Lokalna odvjetnička komora
Local prison rules	Lokalna zatvorska pravila
Local State Court	Općinski sud
Major offence	delikt; kazneno djelo
Minister of Justice	Ministar pravosuđa
Minor offence	prekršaj
Notary	Javni bilježnik
Officer of the Court	Službenik suda
Opposition	Oporba
Permit, entitlement	dozvola, pravo
Personal money in prison	osobni novac u zatvoru
Physical examination	tjelesni pregled
Plaintiff	Tužitelj
Police Chief Inspector	Načelnik policije
Police Inspector	Policijski inspektor
Power of Attorney	Punomoć
Preliminary detention	Privremeno zadržavanje; pritvor
Presiding Judge	Predsjedavajući sudac
Presumption of innocence	Presumpcija nevinosti
Preventive detention	Preventivni pritvor
Prison	Zatvor
Prison administration	Zatvorska uprava
Prison Assessment Unit	Centar za dijagnostiku
Prison Director / Warden	Upravitelj zatvora
Prison house rules	Zatvorska pravila
Prison newspapers	Zatvorske novine
Prison rule book	Zatvorski pravilnik
Prison rules regarding supervised visit	Zatvorska pravila u svezi posjete pod nadzorom
Prison guard	Čuvar, stražar
Prisoners	Zatvorenici
Private prosecution	Progon na osnovu privatne tužbe
Procedural complaint against official	Žalba na postupak službene osobe
Proof of evidence	dokaz
Proportionality	Proporcionalnost
Prosecutor	Tužitelj, državni odvjetnik
Public Prosecutor’s Office	Ured državnog odvjetnika
Punishment cell	Zatvorska ćelija
Regional State Court	Županijski sud
Rehabilitation	Rehabilitacija
Release	Otpustiti
Release order	Nalog o otpuštanju
Remand rules	Pritvorska pravila
Representative of the Local Authority	Predstavnik lokalnog tijela
Secret Service	Tajna služba
Security	Sigurnost
Single Judge	Sudac pojedinac
Small Police Station	Mala policijska postaja
Social Worker	Socijalni radnika
Sufficient suspicion	Osnovana sumnja
Suspended sentence	Uvjetna kazna
Temporary detention	Privremeno zadržavanje
The accused	Optuženik (branjenik)
to buy	kupiti
to change money	promijeniti novac
to deport	deportirati
to file an appplication	podnijeti zahtjev
transfer to another prison	transfer u drugi zatvor
treason	izdaja
valid or legal	važeći ili zakonski
visit	posjet
visiting permit	dozvola za posjetu
Warden	Upravitelj zatvora

Key phrases - English into Croatian

Alphabet	Croatian example	Sounds like
a	avion ‘airplane’	apple
b	banka ‘bank’	box
c	centar ‘centre’	hits
č	čaj ‘tea’	church
ć	ćao ‘ hi’	like ty/chy
d	da ‘yes’	dog
dž	pandza ‘claw’	jet
đ	gospođica ‘Miss’	like dy
e	euro ‘euro’	pet
f	foto ‘photo’	fat
g	grad ‘ town’	got
h	hvala ‘thank you’	Scottish loch or Spanish jota
i	ime ‘name’	heat
j	jedan ‘one’	yes
k	kafić ‘coffee bar’	kick
l	letjeti ‘fly’	let
lj	ljubav ‘love’	like ly
m	more ‘sea’	mat
n	novine ‘newspaper’	net
nj	glasanje ‘ voting’	onion
o	oko ‘eye’	cot
p	policija ‘police’	pet
r	restoran ‘restaurant’	rat
s	snijeg ‘snow’	sit
š	škola ‘school’	shut
t	telefon ‘telephone’	ten
u	ulica ‘street’	shoot
v	voda ‘water’	van
z	zemlja ‘country’	zebra
ž	žemlja ‘bun’	pleasure

Useful words

BUREAUCRACY

name	ime
surname	prezime
address	adresa
date of birth	datum rođenja
place of birth	mjesto rođenja
citizenship	državljanstvo
age	starosti
male	muški
female	ženski
religion	vjeroispovijest
profession	zanimanje
marital status	bračno stanje
single	neoženjen
married	oženjen m, udana f
divorced	razveden m, razvedena f

Extra words

airplane	avion, zrakoplov
ambulance	ambulanta
baggage	prtljaga
boat	brod
boarding pass	ukrcajna propusnica/ karta
border	granica
bus	autobus
car	auto
closed	zatvoreno
currency	valuta
customs	carina
date	datum
entrance	ulaz
exit	izlaz
lorry	kamion
no entry	zabranjen ulaz
no smoking	zabranjeno pušenje
open	otvoreno
passport	putovnica
railway	željeznica
reserved	rezervirano
road	put, cesta
sign	znak
station	postaja
telephone	telefon
timetable	red vožnje
town centre	centar grada
train	vlak
visa	viza

Food	Hrana
Apple	jabuka	Hungry	gladan
Banana	banana	Juice	sok
Beans	grah	Meat	meso
Biscuits	keksi	Milk	mlijeko
Bread	kruh	Omelette	omlet
Cake	kolač	Pancake	palačinka
Chicken	piletina	Rice	riža
Coffee	kava	Sausage	kobasica
Drink	piće	Sugar	šećer
Eat	jesti Sweet	sladak
Eggs	jaja	Vegetables	povrće
Fruit	voće	Water	voda
Breakfast	doručak	Cup	šalica
Lunch	ručak	Fork	vilica
Dinner/supper	večera	Knife	nož
Too much	previše	Plate	tanjur
Too little	premalo	Spoon	žlica

QUICK REFERENCE

Good Morning	Dobro jutro	Sunday	Nedjelja
Good Afternoon	Dobar dan	Monday	ponedjeljak
Good Night	Laku noć	Tuesday	Utorak
Day	Dan	Wednesday	Srijeda
Week	Tjedan	Thursday	Četvrtak
Month	Mjesec	Friday	Petak
Monthly	Mesečno	Saturday	Subota
Year	Godina	Spring	Proljeće
Today	Danas	Summer	Ljeto
Tomorrow	Sutra	Autumn	Jesen
Tonight	Večeras	Winter	Zima
Baby	Beba	Man	Čovjek
Boy	Dječak	Money	Novac
Child	Dijete	Mother	Majka
Father	Otac	My	Moje
Girl	Djevojka	Their	Njihovo
He	On	Them	Oni
Her	Ona	We	Mi
His	Njegovo	Wife	Supruga
Husband	Suprug	Woman	Žena
I	Ja	You	Ti

NUMBERS

One	Jedan	Six	Šest
Two	Dva	Seven	Sedam
Three	Tri	Eight	Osam
Four	Četiri	Nine	Devet
Five	Pet	Ten	Deset

HEALTHCARE

Aids	Sida	Heel	Peta
Alcoholism	Alkoholizam	Hip	Kuk
Anaemia	Anemija	Hygiene	Higijena
Anaesthetic	Anestezija	Infected	Zaražen
Antibiotic	Antibiotik	Intestines	Crijeva
Antiseptic	Antiseptik	Joint	Zglob
Appetite	Apetit	Kidney	Bubreg
Bladder	Mjehur	Lice	Uši
Blood	Krv	Limbs	Udovi
Blood group	Krvna grupa	Mouth	Usta
Blood pressure	Krvni tlak	Muscle	Mišić
Blood transfusion	Transfuzija	Nerve	Živac
Bone	Kost	Nose	Nos
Brain	Mozak	Organ	Organ
Cancer	Rak	Oxygen	Kisik
Clinic	Klinika	Painkiller	Anelgetik
Constipated	Zatvor	Pancreas	Gušterača
Cough	Kašalj	Rabies	Bjesnilo
Dentist	Zubar	Rib	Rebro
Diarrhoea	Proljev	Shoulders	Ramena
Diet	Dijeta	Skin	Koža
Drug medical	Lijek	Skull	Lubanja
Drug narcotic	Droga	Sleeping pill	Tableta za spavanje
Ear	Uho	Spine	Kralježnica
Epidemic	Epidemija	Surgeon	Kirurg
Eye	Oko	Syringe	Šprica
Fever	Groznica	Thigh	Bedro
Flu	Gripa	Throat	Grlo
Gall bladder	Žuč	Tooth	Zub
Germs	Bakterije	Urine	Urin
Hand left	Lijeva ruka	Vein	Vena
Hand righ	Desna ruka	Vitamins	Vitamini
Health	Zdravlje	Waist	Struk
Heart attack	Srčani napad	Windpipe	Dušnik

ACCOMMODATION

Bathroom	Kupaonica	Quiet	Tiho
Bed	Krevet	Roof	Krov
Blanket	Deka	Room	Soba
Chair	Stolica	Sheet	Plahta
Cold water	Hladna voda	Shelf	Polica
Door	Vrata	Shower	Tuš
Electricity	Struja	Table	Stol
Mattress	Madrac	Towel	Ručnik
Noisy	Bučno	Wall	Zid

4.4 Annexes

List of English Speaking Lawyers

List of Private Translators/Interpreters

FCDO leaflet: Support for British Nationals Abroad: Summary

FCDO guidance: Arrested abroad: advice for British nationals

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/arrest-or-detention/arrested-abroad-advice-for-british-nationals

FCDO leaflet: In Prison Abroad: Transfer to a UK Prison

Prisoners Abroad Forms:

https://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/arrest-and-imprisonment

Prisoners Abroad Authorisation Form

Prisoners Abroad Family Contact Form