Number of tourist arrests increases
Guest Writers are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the specific writer directly
More tourists are getting arrested while overseas, new figures from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) have revealed.
Arrests between April 2011 and March 2012 have gone up 6% to 6, 015 compared to the previous year, with alcohol related to half of incidents within those under 34. Drug arrests have also risen by 2%.
The figures, released ahead of the full British Behaviour Abroard report later this month, show a higher number of arrests in Spain and USA with many alcohol-fueled in popular leisure resorts. The FCO is now encouraging Brits to think about their behavior while abroad and make Brits aware of what little the FCO can do for them if imprisoned.
“Whilst we will work hard to try and ensure the safety of British nationals abroad, we cannot interfere in another country’s legal system,” said Jeremy Browne, Minister of State for Consular Affairs. “We find that many people are shocked to discover that the FCO cannot get them out of jail. We always provide Consular support to British nationals in difficulty overseas. However, having a British passport does not make you immune to foreign laws and will not get you special treatment in prison”.
