Arrest and prison abroad

If while travelling as a British national you are arrested or detained overseas, the local British Consul will try to help. The Consul cannot get you out of jail, but will take action if your rights have been denied or abused.

If you are arrested

You should contact the British Consul and give them as much information as possible about your situation. For example, you should try to provide the full postal address of the prison, details of any legal representative and information about the authorities responsible for the court proceedings.

In the event of an arrest or a detention, it is important to:

try to keep calm and be co-operative
not be abusive or violent, as this will make things worse
insist that the British Consul is told of the detention - this is your right as a British national
tell relatives or friends to contact the local British Consul or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London by telephoning +44 (0) 207 008 1500

You may also wish to contact Prisoners Abroad, a charity for Britons detained overseas and their families.

If you are travelling with an Irish passport you can find useful information on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin.