The number of Britons arrested overseas has fallen by over ten per cent, according to the new British Behaviour Abroad report from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 

Drug arrests have decreased by almost 20 per cent over the past year – with a total of 799 recorded.

Despite this positive trend, Foreign Office staff still handled 5,700 arrest cases last year with Spain and USA showing the highest figures.

Drug arrests continue to be a significant problem for some countries, particularly parts of South America and the Caribbean where a high proportion of total arrests are drug related.

Worryingly, some 5,972 Brits died while overseas last year, while a comparatively small 3,752 were hospitalised.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office report, which discloses the number of consular cases handled across the globe from April 1st 2010 – March 31st 2011, provides a unique insight into the number of Britons who get into difficulty overseas. 

 

Minister for Europe, David Lidington, said: “We work hard to warn British nationals about the consequences of breaking the law abroad so it is really encouraging to see the overall number of cases of arrests and drug arrests falling.

“But last year there were still 5,700 arrests of British nationals overseas. 

“Prison conditions in some parts of the world can be very poor, overcrowded and, in some cases, dangerous and sentences can be much tougher than in the UK. 

“People are mistaken if they think the Foreign Office can get you out of jail.”