British Expats in Trouble–Tips on Prevention

Dubai Courts

The top reasons Britons get into problems when abroad includes drink, drugs, lack of advance research and lack of good travel insurance.

Britons are still finding themselves in a lot of trouble when overseas according to the annual British Behaviour Abroad report. Most of this misbehaviour is linked to drink and drugs, but the misbehaviour is also due to poor research before they go resulting in breaking laws they didn’t know existed (which is never an excuse in foreign courts), and not having travel insurance or holding inadequate travel insurance that doesn’t cover hospital stays, loss of passport and other theft.

The report is based on figures from British Consulates around the world, an accumulation of incidences that stack up uncomfortably high for the British: in 2009 in Spain 5,400 Britons required consular assistance. Around 1,500 Britons were arrested in the United States. An amazing 2,500 British passports were ‘lost’ in Australia. These figures do not just represent football hooligans in Europe for the weekend or ravers in the Mediterranean islands, but include a surprisingly high number of expats around the world as well.

Do your Research!

In 2009 991 Britons were arrested worldwide for drug offences, accounting for one fifth of all offences committed by Britons overseas. Some of these arrests included arrests for drugs that are legal in the UK (i.e. codeine). Arrests were also made for topless sunbathing, swearing and public displays of affection (or more intimate-public displays of affection as one British couple experienced on the beaches of Dubai). It is essential that Britons carefully research the country they are moving to before they go.

Comprehensive Travel Insurance

The greatest number of Britons were hospitalised in Spain (741) and Greece (433), with France (203) and Thailand (198) following close behind. Comprehensive travel insurance ensures that accidents and theft are less likely to disrupt a holiday or short term living in another country. Many travel insurance packages also cover legal expenses and legal advisory services.

Around 5,600 deaths of UK citizens abroad were recorded in 2009, caused by including natural causes, accidental deaths and murders. Visiting your GP before you move or travel and ensure you have all important vaccinations and medicines you will need before going. Also investigate the nearest healthcare providers as soon as you arrive so you will not be stuck wondering where to go in an emergency.

Why do the British, with their reputation for good manners and rules, seem to run into such problems when abroad? Are the British so naive to believe that as foreigners they will be excused from following the same laws as the locals?

One of the main draws of the expat lifestyle for many people across many nationalities is the idea of anonymity, being free to be whom you are without being judged by people who know you. Perhaps the expats who flee the rules of their homeland simply want to let their hair down without the confines of British culture.