Playing bingo, snacking while sitting on a monument or feeding pigeons may seem innocent enough to many British citizens, but these are just some of the reasons why people have found themselves faced with hefty fines or in some cases arrested or detained abroad.
Every year Brits are caught out by local laws and customs which might seem harmless in the UK, some of which carry serious consequences.
These could be easily avoided by researching travel destinations in advance and taking note of updates and warnings issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
A recent FCO report* identified that more than a quarter (27%) of cases requiring consular assistance were for arrests or detentions, so it is vital that British citizens familiarise themselves with local laws to ensure they steer clear of trouble with the authorities.
Some unusual laws and customs to watch out for include:
Charles Hay, Director of Consular Services for the FCO said:
“Consular staff often find that travellers are unaware that local laws apply to them and many British nationals think of their British passport as a ‘get out of jail free’ card. While consular staff will always try to assist British nationals who find themselves in difficulty abroad, we can’t interfere in another country’s legal processes.”
“We want Brits to have a great time when they travel abroad so it is also a good idea to research the country they are visiting before they travel. Country specific laws and customs can be found at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice ."
Visit http://www.gov.uk/fco for British foreign policy news and travel advice and http://blogs.fco.gov.uk to read our blogs.
