## Foreign And Commonwealth Office British Behaviour Abroad Report 2013

 
Arrests 
Total 
Consular 
(including 
Drug Arrests 
Deaths 
Hospitalisations 
Rapes 
Sexual 
  
assistance 
drug 
cases 
arrests) 


2008/09 
19,387 
991 
6,919 
5,629 
3,146 
116 
154 
3,423 
29,774 
2009/10 
19,839 
994 
6,439 
5,930 
3,689 
132 
140 
3,509 
27,272 
2010/11 
19,228 
799 
5,700 
5,972 
3,752 
115 
163 
3,526 
25,969 
2011/12 
19,874 
816 
6,015 
6,237 
3,739 
127 
154 
3,602 
28,659 
2012/13 
19,244 
669 
5,435 
6,193 
3,599 
138 
172 
3,707 
28,783 
|                     |
|---------------------|
| Lost and stolen     |
| Other               |
| Assaults            |
| passports/Emergency |
| Assistance          |
| travel documents    |

## Top 20 Countries Where British Nationals Required The Most Consular Assistance From 1 April 2012 - 31 March 2013

 
The following chart is ordered by number of total Consular assistance cases, from highest to lowest. 2012-2013 figures correspond to 1 April 2012 - 31 March 2013. 

| Number of               | Total Arrests    |
|-------------------------|------------------|
| Drug                    | Total            |
| Country                 |                  |
| Number of               |                  |
| British                 | /                |
| Visitors                |                  |
| 1                       |                  |
|                         | Arrests          |
| Hospitalisation         | Rape             |
| Sexual                  |                  |
| Residents               |                  |
| 2                       |                  |
|                         | Detention        |
| Year                    | 12-13            |
| Spain                   | 13,653,846       |
| 4                       |                  |
|                         | 103              |
| 4,658                   |                  |
| 5,405                   |                  |
| USA                     | 3,800,000        |
| 1,548                   |                  |
| 1,822                   |                  |
| France                  | 17,100,000       |
| 4                       |                  |
|                         | 28               |
| 1,358                   |                  |
| 1,319                   |                  |
| Thailand                | 870,164          |
| 1,141                   |                  |
| 978                     |                  |
| Greece                  | 1,920,794        |
| 715                     |                  |
| 859                     |                  |
| Germany                 | 2,162,489        |
| 3                       |                  |
|                         | 10               |
| 705                     |                  |
| 558                     |                  |
| Cyprus                  | 1,069,190        |
| 565                     |                  |
| 600                     |                  |
| United Arab             |                  |
| Emirates                |                  |
| 1,000,000               | 100,000          |
| 436                     |                  |
| 348                     |                  |
| Portugal                | 1,900,000        |
| 4                       |                  |
|                         | 12               |
| 403                     |                  |
| 368                     |                  |
| Australia               | 592,400          |
| 4                       |                  |
|                         | 2                |
| 373                     |                  |
| 361                     |                  |
| Turkey                  | 2,582,054        |
| 371                     |                  |
| 404                     |                  |
| India                   | 787,000          |
| 352                     |                  |
| 322                     |                  |
| Canada                  | 724,000          |
| 345                     |                  |
| 308                     |                  |
| China                   | 1,187,706        |
| 4                       |                  |
|                         |                  |
| 10                      | 8                |
| 338                     |                  |
| 331                     |                  |
| Egypt                   | 1,034,000        |
| 336                     |                  |
| 359                     |                  |
| Philippines             | 113,282          |
| 272                     |                  |
| 240                     |                  |
| Italy                   | 2,676,121        |
| 4                       |                  |
|                         | 9                |
| 271                     |                  |
| 305                     |                  |
| Pakistan                | 275,351          |
| 238                     |                  |
| 205                     |                  |
| Netherlands             | 2,500,000        |
| 188                     |                  |
| 160                     |                  |
| New                     |                  |
| Zealand                 |                  |
| 189,056                 | 250,000          |
| 188                     |                  |
| 199                     |                  |
| Total Worldwide Figures | 653              |
Total  
Total  
Other  
Assault 
Assistance 
Assistance 

The following chart is ordered by the country that Britons are most likely to require assistance. The chart has been calculated by taking the number of assistance cases divided by the number of visitors and residents combined. 

 

| Number of            | Visitors and    | Total      |
|----------------------|-----------------|------------|
| Country              |                 |            |
| Number of            |                 |            |
| British              | residents       | Assistance |
| Visitors             |                 |            |
| 1                    |                 |            |
|                      |                 |            |
| Residents            |                 |            |
| 2                    |                 |            |
|                      | combined        | 2012/13    |
| Philippines          |                 |            |
| 113,282              | 15,000          | 128,282    |
| 272                  |                 |            |
| Thailand             |                 |            |
| 870,164              | 50,000          | 920,164    |
| 1,141                |                 |            |
| Pakistan             |                 |            |
| 275,351              | 43,000          | 318,351    |
| 238                  |                 |            |
| Cyprus               |                 |            |
| 1,069,190            | 59,000          | 1,128,190  |
| 565                  |                 |            |
| New Zealand          |                 |            |
| 189,056              | 250,000         |            |
| 4                    |                 |            |
|                      | 439,056         |            |
| 188                  |                 |            |
| India                |                 |            |
| 787,000              | 36,000          | 823,000    |
| 352                  |                 |            |
| United Arab Emirates |                 |            |
| 1,000,000            | 100,000         | 1,100,000  |
| 436                  |                 |            |
| Greece               |                 |            |
| 1,920,794            | 35,000          | 1,955,794  |
| 715                  |                 |            |
| USA                  |                 |            |
| 3,800,000            | 829,000         | 4,629,000  |
| 1,548                |                 |            |
| Germany              |                 |            |
| 2,162,489            | 141,706         |            |
| 3                    |                 |            |
|                      | 2,162,489       |            |
| 705                  |                 |            |
| Spain                |                 |            |
| 13,653,846           | 795,784         |            |
| 4                    |                 |            |
|                      | 14,449,630      |            |
| 4,658                |                 |            |
| Egypt                |                 |            |
| 1,034,000            | 15,000          | 1,049,000  |
| 336                  |                 |            |
| Canada               |                 |            |
| 724,000              | 609,000         | 1,333,000  |
| 345                  |                 |            |
| China                |                 |            |
| 1,187,706            | 284,600         |            |
| 4                    |                 |            |
|                      | 1,472,306       |            |
| 338                  |                 |            |
| Australia            |                 |            |
| 592,400              | 1,101,021       |            |
| 4                    |                 |            |
|                      | 1,693,421       |            |
| 373                  |                 |            |
| Portugal             |                 |            |
| 1,900,000            | 35,900          |            |
| 4                    |                 |            |
|                      | 1,935,900       |            |
| 403                  |                 |            |
| Turkey               |                 |            |
| 2,582,054            | 51,000          | 2,633,054  |
| 371                  |                 |            |
| Italy                |                 |            |
| 2,676,121            | 59,120          |            |
| 4                    |                 |            |
|                      | 2,735,241       |            |
| 271                  |                 |            |
| France               |                 |            |
| 17,100,000           | 400,000         |            |
| 4                    |                 |            |
|                      | 17,500,000      |            |
| 1,358                |                 |            |
| Netherlands          |                 |            |
| 2,500,000            | 45,000          |            |
| 4                    |                 |            |
|                      | 2,545,000       |            |
| 188                  |                 |            |

 
1 Figures are based on the latest visitor numbers provided by individual country authorities  
2 *Global Brit: Making the most of the British diaspora, 2010*  
3 Federal Government statistics, including military and their dependents (based on 2011-12 data)  
4 Figures are based on British Embassy/High Commission estimates for 2012-13 

## Notes: Total Worldwide Figures: Includes All Countries Top 20 List: Compiled Using Total Assistance Services For All Countries Decided By The Following Attributes: Arrest; Arrest - Drugs; Assault - Sexual; Rape; Death; Hospitalisation; And Other Assistance. Other Assistance Includes: Abduction; Assault - General; Child - Access; Child - Abduction; Child - Custody; Forced Marriage; Missing Persons; Mental Health; Repatriation; Welfare; Missing Person Reports.  'Other Assistance' Does Not Include Any Advice And Self-Help Enquiries. Report Findings And Foreign & Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Hospitalisations Report Findings:

 
Spain continues to be the country with the highest number of Britons hospitalised (899 cases). The number of hospitalisations are lower than last year as is the case for a number of other popular holiday hotspots on 
the Mediterranean 
 
Consular staff have been working more closely with local hospitals to make them more aware of the types of cases where the FCO can add value. FCO staff have also strengthened ties with charities who support 
British nationals in less critical situations which allows the FCO to focus on the most vulnerable 
 
 
Proportionally Brits are most likely to be hospitalised in Thailand (285 cases) followed by the Philippines 
 
 
The number of hospitalisation cases handled in Thailand has increased by around a third (31%) to 285 
cases. Many of these are linked to the ageing British population in the country and road traffic accidents 

## Fco Advice:

 
 
Research the health risks of the country you are visiting online as soon as possible before travelling, so you can get the right vaccinations and preventative measures (e.g. malaria tablets) if required. Visit http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/travelhealth/Pages/Travelhealthhome.aspx for more information  
 
 
Ensure your medication is legal in the country you are visiting - contact the Embassy of the country to which you are travelling and visit http://www.nathnac.org and www.nhs.uk for more information 
 
If you hire a moped or quad bike, check the small print of your travel insurance to make sure you are covered and always wear a helmet 
 
Remember most insurers won't pay out if you injure yourself or others when you've been drinking alcohol - 
check your policy's small print 
 

## Deaths Abroad Report Findings:

 
 
1,492 British nationals died in Spain, followed by France (820) and Germany (516) 
 
As a proportion, Brits are significantly more likely to die in the Philippines than in any other country - there are large numbers of elderly British expats who live in the Philippines, which accounts for most of the hospitalisation or death cases - relatively few tourists die or are hospitalised 

## Fco Advice Around Death Abroad:

 
No matter how old or how fit you are, take out comprehensive travel insurance - if an uninsured person dies whilst abroad any treatment they have received and their repatriation to the UK is unlikely to be covered.  Bringing a body back to the UK can cost thousands of pounds. 
 
If you are living in the UK and a relative or friend dies when abroad, then you should contact the FCO on 020 7008 1500. If you are abroad, you should contact the relevant Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. 
 
It is essential that the death is registered in the country where the person died. The FCO can advise you how to do this. 
 
 
The FCO can advise you about bringing a body and personal belongings back to the UK and provide 
support during a distressing time. 

## Rape And Sexual Assault Report Findings:

 
Overall there was a 20% increase in reported rape cases from 2010-11 and a 9% increase on cases reported last year 
 
The highest number of reported sexual assaults occurred in Spain (39), 42% of which were reported to have occurred in the Balearic Islands 
 

## Fco Advice On Rape And Sexual Assault Abroad:

 
We encourage anyone who is a victim of rape or sexual assault overseas to contact their nearest Embassy or Consulate for support.  There are contact details for Embassies on the FCO website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations We can offer support in a number of ways including explaining local procedures, accompanying people to the police station, helping them deal with local authorities and medical staff and contacting friends or family at home if requested 
 
We would encourage people to take the same precautions they would at home to avoid putting themselves at risk - for example keeping an eye on their friends; never accepting car rides from strangers, and asking their hotel to recommend a taxi firm; and never leaving food or drinks unattended, so they can't be spiked 

## Arrests, Drug Arrests And Detentions

Report findings: 
 
The overall number of arrests has decreased by 10%. Most cases were handled in Spain (1,599) followed by 
the USA (1,120) and the United Arab Emirates (244) 
 
 
Although the overall number of arrests has decreased some countries have seen an increase in cases, including the United Arab Emirates, Italy and the Netherlands 
 
Drug arrests involving Brits abroad have dropped to their lowest (653) since the report first launched in 2009 with a decrease of 32% compared to the number of cases in 2009/10, when figures were at their highest.  
 
 
Most drug arrest cases were handled in the USA (159) followed by Spain (103)  

## Fco Advice:

 
 
Don't take risks with the law abroad - or you could end up throwing years of your life away in a foreign prison  
Think about what you are doing at all times and trust your instincts - do not take risks that you would not at home.  Many countries have a zero-tolerance approach to offences involving drugs and alcohol and 
sentences can be long 
 
 
It is a good idea to research the local laws and customs of the country you are visiting - there may be serious penalties for breaking a law that might seem trivial at home. Country-specific local laws and customs can be found at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice 
 

## Know Before You Go Campaign

 The British Behaviour Abroad figures have been released as part of the Know Before You Go (KBYG) campaign which encourages British nationals to prepare for their foreign travel so they can avoid preventable problems.  The campaign works with around 600 travel industry partners to communicate its messages to help Britons stay safe and healthy abroad. 

 
It's important to know how the FCO can help you when you're abroad: 

The FCO can: 
 
Issue you with an emergency travel document 
The FCO can't: 
 
Help you enter a country if you don't have a valid passport or necessary visas 
 
Give you a list of local lawyers, interpreters, doctors or funeral directors 
 
Give you legal advice 
 
Contact friends and family back home for you if 
necessary 
 
Get you better treatment in hospital or prison than is given to 
local people 
 
Provide information about transferring funds 
 
Pay any bills or give you money 
 
Visit you in hospital or if you have been arrested 
 
Make travel arrangements for you 
 
 Before you travel, visit www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo to get the latest travel advice about your destination, and make a note of the number of the nearest British Embassy or Consulate to where you are staying, so you can ask for help if you need it. 

Report updated on 15 August 2013