This page provides information on the national frameworks to address hate crime in Iceland. The information provided here should be viewed alongside data presented on Iceland's hate crime report page.

Hate crime recording and data collection

Iceland's data, collected by the National Police Commissioner, include cases of discrimination and defamation. There is no systematic collection of hate crime statistics in Iceland across the criminal justice system. Reported criminal offences are registered in a central police database (LÖKE).

While hate speech is specifically covered by law, hate crime is only covered by a general provision of the criminal code that relates to the motive of the perpetrator.

"Possible Hate Crimes" are registered in the police database as an addition to the registered offence based on the existence of a potential bias motive. The type of motive is also registered. Motives available for registration include: sexual orientation, gender identity, religion (other), religion (anti-Semitism), religion (anti-Christian), religion (anti-Muslim), racist - xenophobic bias and other. The Icelandic Police do not release the data to the public. 

Hate crimes are not recorded by prosecutors or the judiciary, only hate speech. 

The National Commissioner of Police conducts victimization surveys; the 2021 survey included questions about possible bias motivation. The results of the 2021 survey are published here.

Hate crime victim support

Iceland provides specialized support for victims of hate crimes as part of its general victim support scheme.

The Family Justice Centers are one-stop-shops for adult victims of violence that offer counselling, legal advice and interpretation services free of charge. The Centers work in co-operation with law enforcement, public and municipal administration, and civil society. The Centers are attended by a police officer specialized in hate crimes. Women victims of hate crime can find shelter, while migrants can address the Icelandic Human Rights Centre – a specialized civil society organization.

There is a dedicated 112 website providing information on hate crimes.

Hate crime capacity building

The following courses are offered at the Center for Police Training and Professional Development (CPTPD): 'Advanced Specialized CPTPD Programs'; 'Criminal Investigation' (10 ECTS), which includes a module on hate crimes and multiculturalism targeted at investigative officers; and 'Leadership Training for Shift Supervisors' (10 ECTS), which includes a module on hate crimes and multiculturalism. The Diploma in Police Science offered by the University of Akureyri includes a mandatory course on 'Diversity and Policing' (6 ECTS), which covers hate crimes, hate speech, and multiculturalism and is based on material from ODIHR's Training Against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE).

The CPTPD has an agreement with Iceland's National Queer Organization, Samtökin '78, which provides training for police staff as part of its advocacy work on LGBTQIA+ rights. The 2021 agreement was renewed in 2024, and provides for regular training sessions for all police staff and police studies students conducted by educational representatives from Samtökin '78.