Foreign Office (FO) Warns Badly Behaved Brits Not To Expect Jail Aid

Many of us have been tempted by the excess on holiday and have risked trouble by having a few too many to drink. It seems, however, that we should think before we get ourselves into trouble as we may not get the help we expect.

The Foreign Office (FO) has warned boozy and badly behaved Britons not to expect British Embassy staff to help spring them if they end up in the cells. Although if your stay is longer they will at least drop by to check up on you. Many travel insurance policies will be able to help you with legal representation and translation.

The FO has been driven to release a quick guide to what it can and cannot do by the ever growing numbers of UK residents holidaying abroad. More than 6,000 Britons are detained abroad every year, the FO estimates.

"Falling sick, being a victim of crime or facing an emergency are traumatic events under any circumstances," said the foreign secretary.

"When these problems happen abroad, they can be even more difficult and frightening. So there is no more important task for the FO than our work to help British nationals in distress overseas.

"I hope that this new guide will help British nationals travelling or living abroad know what support we can offer in different cases," he added.

If you do get into trouble it is important to contact your nearest British Embassy as they can, at the very least, contact your family and friends back in the UK on your behalf and inform them of your situation. Also it is vital that you do not travel without comprehensive travel insurance that covers everything you plan to do.  Contact your insurance company as well as they may be able to provide legal advice.

If you would like to know more about holidays why not ask AnswerBank Travel.