We can help if a British citizen is arrested or detained overseas

British nationals in detention or prison overseas

If a relative or friend has been detained or held in prison overseas, this is the support we can give.

If your relative or friend has asked us to, we will tell you as soon as we can, that they have been detained or held in prison. However, to protect their confidentiality, we will not provide any details of the detention or arrest, or tell you how to contact them, unless they have given us permission.

Prison conditions

We can provide general information about the country involved, prison conditions and the local legal system.

We can put you in touch with the prisoners’ welfare charity, Prisoners Abroad.

If the prison where your friend or relative is being detained agrees, we can pass on any money you want to send to buy prison ‘comforts’, use the phone and so on.

In many countries, mail sent or received by the prisoner will be opened and read by the authorities, and phone conversations may be monitored.

If you are detained, please:

- Try to remain calm
- Insist that the British Consul be notified. IT IS YOUR RIGHT
- Ask relatives or friends to contact the Embassy or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London on 0207 008 1500.

Consular staff are here to support you and to take an interest in your welfare. We are non-judgemental. We also aim to treat all prisoners the same regardless of the crime for which you are detained or whether you are on remand or have been sentenced.

After being notified of your arrest, we can contact you in prison and visit you if that is what you want; we can give you information about the local legal system and provide you with a list of local lawyers; we can explain the local prison or remand system, including visiting arrangements; we can put you in touch with prisoners’ welfare charity called “Prisoners Abroad”; and we can tell your family and friends, if you want us to, that you have been arrested.

The Embassy will not pass on information about your case to any third party without your consent. However, you should be aware that if you are arrested for certain serious offences, such as child sex abuse or drug crimes, our staff are legally obliged to inform the relevant UK authorities.