Jim Murphy

Minister for Europe

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Wednesday 13 August, 2008

Brits Abroad

News earlier this week about the number of UK holiday makers in Spain who are arrested each year.  I was on holiday in Costa Brava, an area of Spain that is remarkably British.  In fact there seem to be more Irish bars than there are in Ireland.  And I have to admit I didn't see any trouble at all.

But the figures are worrying.  British tourists abroad sometimes forget that if they break the laws of the country they are in they will face justice in the same way that a foreign tourist visiting the UK is subject to our laws when they are here.  Meg Munn is the Minister responsible for Consular Services in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  On Tuesday, she commented on the report and reminded Brits of some of the simple steps they can take to avoid problems when travelling overseas.  You can read these and get travel advice on our website .

 

Posted at 18:56 13 August 2008 by Jim Murphy  |  Comments[3]

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There is a small minority who always besmirch the reputation of the UK when they go abroad in their droves and cause mayhem. All countries have stereotypes when it comes to their tourists but the British seem to be only country whose stereotype is not benign.

Posted by Francis on August 18, 2008 at 12:59 PM BST #

The British government has been far too lax on those who do harm abroad. It was only when the int'l community started criticising british football supporters that the govt decided to ban travel of known offenders. Why not take away the same privileges to travel abroad for those who consistently cause trouble and use up important consular resources at the expense of those who actually need it?

Posted by david paul on August 19, 2008 at 11:06 AM BST #

Yes it is unfortunate that some British people do forget themselves when they are abroad however as a Scot living in Greece can I just say that the legal systems do not always work fairly when dealing with foreign nationals, we have had this proven to us time and time again trying to get through the often endless stream of red tape only to be told that how it works here - basically like it or lump it and I am sure that although some of the people who find themselves on the wrong side of the law deserve it however some of them will be at the end of rough justice.

Posted by Eleanor on September 16, 2008 at 08:48 AM BST #

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