Guidance

Chad: Prisoner Pack

Updated 27 April 2023

Chapter 1: Key points

Overview

If you are a British national, and are arrested or detained in another country, consular staff will do what they can to help you. However, we cannot interfere with the local justice system, get you out of jail, or pay for services such as a lawyer. Information about who we can help, including the circumstances in which we can assist dual nationals, is available at: Support for British nationals abroad. You can also request a paper copy from consular staff.

This information pack aims to give you, and your family and friends, information about the local system in Chad and who can help. Consular staff can provide a printed copy to those in prison or in custody. We welcome feedback to help us improve the information we can provide to others:

Contacting us

If you are arrested or detained in another country:

• the authorities should ask whether you want them to contact the British embassy, high commission or consulate (and must do so if you want them to)
• if they do not ask, you can make the request yourself. You should do this if you are charged with a serious offence or need any kind of assistance
• friends or family can also contact the local British embassy, high commission or consulate or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London on +44 (0)20 7008 5000

In some countries, the authorities might notify the British embassy, high commission or consulate even if you do not want anyone to know that you have been arrested. This is because there may be an agreement in place with the British government which requires a mandatory notification to be made.

Who we are

Consular staff work in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in the UK, and in British embassies, high commissions and consulates overseas.

The British High Commission in Cameroon has consular responsibility for Republic of Chad. There is a UK Embassy in N’Djamena and consular and/or other members of the mission from Yaounde - Cameroon make regular visits to Chad.

The British High Commission in Cameroon has details below:

Contact Details:

British High Commission
Avenue Winston Churchill,
P.O Box 547, Yaounde.

Tel: +237 +44 207 008 3355/ +237 650 46 06 52 (only during working hours).

Email: Bhc.Yaounde@fcdo.gov.uk/ Consular Yaounde Enquiries

The Address of the British Embassy in N’Djamena:

British Embassy
150 Avenue Général Kerim Nassour
BP 552 N’Djamena - Chad

You can also contact us by phone 24/7 for help or advice from anywhere in the world by calling the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

What we can do

The FCDO can offer you impartial and non-judgemental help. When we are notified of your arrest or detention, we will aim to contact you as soon as possible, so that we can assess how we can help you. We then aim to provide assistance according to your individual circumstances and local conditions. Our priority is to provide assistance to those British nationals overseas that need our help the most.

In Chad, it can happen that the local authorities never inform us of an arrest. If they do, notification by the authorities to the consulate normally takes place several days after arrest.

We can also:

• provide a list of local English-speaking lawyers and interpreters.
• provide general information about the country, detention conditions, and the local legal system (including if legal aid is available)
• provide general information about the local prison or remand system, including visiting arrangements, mail and censorship, privileges, and welfare services
• keep in regular contact with you, either by visiting or by telephone/letter. The frequency of contact will depend on local conditions and your personal circumstances
• tell the police or prison doctor, with your permission, about any medical or dental problems including medication
• put you, or your family, in touch with a prisoners’ welfare charity called Prisoners Abroad
• in some circumstances we may be able to help take up complaints with the police or prison authorities about ill treatment, personal safety, or discrimination, if you are not treated in line with internationally recognised standards
• help to transfer money to you from your friends or family. In places where phone or postal services are not available we can also try to pass on messages and deliver letters to the prison (but generally we cannot arrange for delivery directly to you)
• in some circumstances we may be able to help you apply for a transfer to a prison in the UK

What we cannot do

• Get you out of prison or detention
• Help you get special treatment because you are British
• Offer legal advice, start legal proceedings or investigate a crime
• Pay for any costs because you have been arrested
• Forward you packages sent by friends or family
• Prevent authorities from deporting you after release

First steps

Informing family members

If you want us to, we can tell your family or friends that you have been detained and provide them with information about how to contact you. With your consent, we can also keep them updated on your wellbeing.

If you are not sure about informing your family, we can help you consider what the impact of not doing so might be. For example, it may cause them distress if they do not know where you are, or cannot contact you. It can also be a disadvantage to you if you need someone to send you money or act on your behalf while you are detained.

Informing the UK police

If you are accused of certain serious offences, such as sexual assault or drug trafficking, we are obliged to share information about your arrest with UK police. Information about this may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer. There may be other circumstances when information about you may need to be shared with authorities in Chad.

Legal assistance: lawyers

We cannot give legal advice, start legal proceedings, or investigate a crime. However, we can provide information about the local legal system, including whether a legal aid scheme is available. We can also give you a list of local interpreters and a list of local English-speaking lawyers. You should consider the benefits of local legal representation and discuss all the costs beforehand with the legal representative. We cannot pay your legal or interpretation costs in any circumstance.

Consular assistance: fair treatment

We cannot get you out of prison or detention, or get you special treatment because you are British. If you are not treated in line with internationally accepted standards, we will consider whether to approach the local authorities. This may include if your trial does not follow internationally recognised standards or is unreasonably delayed compared to local cases.

Other organisations that can provide assistance

We can put you, or your family, in touch with Prisoners Abroad, a UK charity which supports British citizens detained overseas and their families.

Chapter 2: Detention conditions in Chad

Visits: friends and family

Who can visit and how to arrange visits

You should consult FCDO travel advice before you travel to Chad for the latest information on safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings.

Each prison in Chad has its own visiting rules. Generally, visits are permitted every day but limited to a time communicated in advance to the visitor by the prison guard.

However, for some categories of prisoners, a permit issued by the State Prosecutor or by the examining Magistrate to family or friends is required before visiting them.

Visitors should also bring their passports and identification documents which are held by the prison authorities and are returned at the end of each visit.

Depending on the circumstances, the prison authorities may suspend, prevent or cancel a visit from your family or friends.

What to expect when you visit

The visitor(s) should arrive at least one hour before the scheduled visit. Upon arrival at the detention facility, visitor(s) will be searched and asked to surrender their IDs, which will be returned to them after the visit. The location of the meeting depends on the facilities in the prisons.

Except in extreme cases, you do have the right to make a telephone call when you are arrested. Here, you have the choice to choose whoever you wish to call but with the assistance of a law officer who has the right to listen your conversation.

However, for confidentiality reasons, the authorities will not tell anyone that you have been detained, or what the charges are, without your permission.

What you can take on your visit

Visitors can bring food and clothing. They can also bring sleeping materials to help you cope with the conditions of detention and sleep better. Conditions of the prison may be poor, so your visitors may bring sanitary products to help you avoid contracting diseases. Visitors will not be allowed to bring telephones or any other form of communication into the prison.

Visits: consular staff

Consular visits are permitted during pre-trial detention as well as after conviction. Frequency of visits will depend on the availability and proximity of the Consulate team.

If you have health problems during your detention, you should raise this with the prison management who can discuss and find an arrangement with the Consulate.

You can write to us at any time on matters that concern you at ConsularYaoundeEnquiries@fcdo.gov.uk but if it is urgent it may be quicker to ask prison authorities to contact us on your behalf.

Emergency trips outside of prison

This is not allowed in Chad.

Police custody and initial arrival at prison

Arriving at the police station: your basic rights

You will be arrested if there is a suspicion that you have committed an offence. Remain calm and co-operate with the police. Do not be abusive or violent, as it will make things worse and could result in additional charges. It is an offence to resist arrest.

The police will ask you to provide various personal details, including your nationality. Following arrest, the police may detain you for an initial period of up to 48 hours to conduct investigations. For a minor aged 13 to less than 18 years, the custody may not exceed 10 hours.

Appearing at court

When you are brought before a judge, you are given the right to speak. If you do not have a lawyer, the State might appoint one for you under certain conditions. Irrespective of the location of the appearance in court, you are entitled to be tried in the language you understand best. However, this is not the case in practice – and the court does not provide a professional interpreter.

Read more information about the Chadian judicial system in chapter 3.

Initial arrival at the prison

Upon arrival at the prison, the prison authorities will check the remand warrant and enter your name in an entry register. The register may contain information such as the date of the remand, next court appearance and the offence. Once the registration process is completed, you will be subjected to bodily checks and personal belongings will be confiscated and returned once you are released.

You are allowed to make a limited number of phone calls (which you may need to pay for) without restriction to domestic or international numbers.

A social worker or nurse may interview you upon arrival. You will be allowed access to any duly prescribed medication essential for your wellbeing. You may keep and use your own clothing. The prison authorities do not provide toiletries.

Prison welfare officers work full time in each prison. They are responsible for providing advice and raising the morale of the inmates and help with their social rehabilitation when they leave prison. Bear in mind that these workers are usually quite few compared to the large prison populations.

Prison: conditions and daily life

Accommodation

Sentenced prisoners and those on remand are held separately. There are no single prison cells; all cells are shared. The number of inmates in a cell is dependent on the size of the cell.  Some prisoners might be put into a segregated “protection” area of the prison. This could be because their alleged offence might otherwise put their safety at risk or because they are violent.

Cells have bunk beds with mattresses. Some cells have toilets in the dormitory while others are located outside.

Dormitories have windows, which provide natural light into the rooms.

Food and diet

Prisons in Chad are extremely underfunded and are not always able to supply prisoners with adequate food and water. Bottled drinking water is rarely available although tap water is usually provided. Food provided by the prison is usually of very poor quality and sometimes only one meal a day is provided. There is an expectation that a prisoner’s family and friends will provide his/her food. In some prisons, areas are available for prisoners to grow their own food.

Hygiene

Prisoners have access to a common shower room; each prisoner can bathe once a day.

The law requires an infirmary in every prison. Every inmate is subjected to a medical examination on their arrival to prison in order to detect possible physical or mental illness and take all the necessary measures to ensure the separation of prisoners suspected of having infectious or contagious diseases.

Sick prisoners needing special care are transferred to specialised penitentiaries or to civilian hospitals. There are special facilities for treatment of pregnant women and their childbirth.

Work and study

It is possible to work from prison for a public or private company. The conditions of this work and the remuneration are arranged by the prison administration, the employer and the prisoner.

Contact and languages

You have the right to send and receive mail, subject to the rules and regulations of each prison and the strict control of the management and prison guards. However, letters from lawyers and judicial authorities are exempt from such control.

You can request local language materials through the post from Prisoners Abroad (including language textbooks and dictionaries).

Exercise

In all prisons in Chad, the following activities can be found:

• sports, recreational and cultural programs
• craft training for prisoners
• educational courses for minors and women as well as books and works of art

All leisure activities are organised either among the prisoners combined or according to the category of individuals. No activity with outsiders is permitted.

Climate

Chad has mainly two seasons: very dry season (from December to April) and rainy season (from May to November). Depending on where you are in Chad this might vary somewhat. Appropriate clothing for cold seasons is the responsibility of the inmate.

Religion

You have the right to practice the religion of your choice, since religious freedom is a fundamental right (article 25 of Chad’s transitional charter).

At the N’Djamena detention centre, there is a mosque and a church corresponding to the majority religions in Chad. There is a military chaplain for the Catholics who regularly comes to say Mass for the prisoners.

Rules and regulations (including drugs)

The use of drugs is strictly forbidden by the prison authorities.

Rules on drugs are contained in the rules and regulations of each prison and any violation entails severe penalties.

Prison: access to help and services

Receiving money

You have a right to receive money from friends and family whilst in prison. There are no restrictions on the amount of money that you can have, but you retain this money at your own risk. Your family and friends can bring this money directly to you or use an intermediary. The money can also be transferred through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London.

There are 2 ways you may be able to receive financial assistance while in prison:

• Private funds: deposited to you by your family or friends.
• Prisoners Abroad: depending on where you are detained, if your family cannot support you financially, Prisoners Abroad may be able to send you a small grant every quarter for essentials (enough for one hot meal a day).

The UK government does not provide financial assistance to prisoners.

Private funds

While the FCDO does not provide financial assistance to prisoners, we may be able, within certain limits, to send you money from your family or friends. Please note that you cannot have cash sent to you in the post.

The FCDO operates a ‘Prison Comfort’ system for money transfers to prisoners. Ask your family or friends to get in touch with the FCDO to arrange this.

We cannot receive payment by credit or debit card, or by cash.

Prisoners Abroad

Prisoners Abroad may be able to assist you with funding for prison essentials and some medical care if you are not receiving regular funding from other sources.

Medical and Dental treatment

While you are detained, The Chadian government is responsible for ensuring your basic medical needs are met.

The prison medical officer is responsible for prisoners’ health care. However, lack of funding means that equipment, drugs and qualified staff are in short supply in most prisons. In most cases, prisoners rely on friends or relatives to purchase prescribed medication. Prisoners with serious health concerns are sent to local public or private hospitals. In some cases prisoners will be asked to cover the cost of any external (outside the prison) medical treatment. The British Embassy is unable to pay any medical bills for prisoners.

With your permission, we can make sure that any medical or dental problems you might have are brought to the attention of any police or prison doctor. We can also liaise with your GP in the UK, if the police or prison doctor requests previous medical records and this is in your vital interests.

Letters and parcels

You have the right to receive parcels whilst in prison, subject to the regulations of each prison and the strict control of the management and the prison guards. However, it is strictly forbidden to receive containers, utensils, sharp or pointed objects. You can receive sleeping mats, sheets, mosquito nets, books, magazines and newspapers.

Telephone calls

Telephone calls are permitted under certain conditions with the agreement of the prison administration or with the agreement of the manager of the remand centre.

Making a complaint about mistreatment

If you have been mistreated, you should inform consular staff as soon as it is safe for you to do so. We will then do our best to visit you, to check on your welfare, discuss the allegations, and explain any local complaints procedures and supportive organisations that you may wish to consider. With your permission, and where appropriate, we will consider approaching the local authorities if you have not been treated in line with internationally-accepted standards. If you have been mistreated, try to see a doctor, obtain a medical report and if possible take photos of your injuries.

Chapter 3: The Chadian judicial system

Overview

The criminal justice system in Chad is based on the Romano-Germanic tradition and is modelled on the French system. It is both inquisitorial and accusatory.

The system is adversarial (competitive process between prosecution and defence to determine the facts) when the prosecuting authority initiates public action and brings the offender to the Tribunal. The prosecuting authority is the public prosecutor. S/he directs and coordinates the action of all officers and agents involved in the judicial police (Article 264 of the Code of Criminal Procedure). S/he decides, after carrying out any additional investigations deemed useful, whether or not to immediately bring the offender before the criminal court for trial. If s/he considers that there are no grounds for prosecution, s/he will issue a decision to discontinue the proceedings (Article 290 of the Code of Criminal Procedure).

Where the system is inquisitorial (legal system in which the court, or a part of the court, is actively involved in investigating the facts of the case), the main actor is the investigating judge. S/he is responsible for carrying out the preparatory investigation of all crimes and offences that require the use of this procedure (Article 300 of the Code of Criminal Procedure). S/he can only inform on the basis of an indictment by the public prosecutor.

S/he is also responsible for investigating when s/he receives a complaint from a civil party, i.e. an individual who files a complaint directly with them without going through the public prosecutor or files a complaint after the public prosecutor has closed the case.

The investigating judge examines whether there are charges of a criminal offence:

• If s/he considers that the facts do not constitute a felony, misdemeanour or contravention or if the perpetrator remains unknown, or if there are no sufficient charges against the accused, s/he shall declare by order that there are no grounds for prosecution.
• If it considers that the facts constitute a misdemeanour or a contravention, it orders the accused to be referred to the Criminal Court for trial.
• If he considers that the facts constitute a crime, he orders the transfer of the proceedings to the Indictment Division for a trial in criminal session.

When the investigating judge proceeds in accordance with the law, he or she takes as much time as possible and the procedure lasts at least three (3) months before issuing his or her order.

The total length of detention pending trial will depend on the seriousness and complexity of the offence:

If it is a crime, the duration of the investigation takes one year, renewable once by the investigating judge. If it is a misdemeanour, the duration of the investigation is 6 months, renewable once only; failure to comply with this time limit may result in the automatic release of the accused. In addition, after the order for the transmission of documents, the accused must be presented to a court of judgment or before the indictment chamber within 4 months of the notification of the order. If the judge does not respect this time limit, the accused must be released automatically.

Sometimes if the investigating judge does not comply with the law, it usually takes several months (perhaps even years) before a case is brought to trial. However, an application for automatic release can be made to the Public Prosecutor or to the Indictment Chamber

Crimes belong to the criminal courts. Crimes are offences punishable by more than ten (10) years’ imprisonment. Moreover, misdemeanours and infractions are referred to the correctional chambers of the Tribunal de Grande Instance, the simple police court and to the justices of the peace who rule, except in the case of an appeal to the court of appeal, in the cases and conditions provided for by the code of criminal procedure.

If you are arrested or suspected of having committed any offence, the police will ask you to provide various personal details, including your nationality (Article 80 of the Criminal Procedure Code). After your arrest, the police may detain you for an initial period of up to 48 hours to carry out investigations (Article 282 of the Criminal Procedure Code). For a minor aged between 13 and 18, police custody may not exceed 10 hours (Article 7 paragraph 2 of Law No. 07/PR/1999 of 6 April 1999 on the procedure for prosecuting and trying offences committed by minors aged between 13 and 18). In addition, the police may allow you to contact your lawyer before the first hearings (Article 50 of the Code of Criminal Procedure).

It should be noted that in small localities (sub-prefectures, canton or village), the justice of the peace is competent. S/he deals with small cases and those of lesser importance. The latter is both prosecutor and judge. In the big cities, it is the Tribunal de Grande Instance. Except in N’Djamena, both the Tribunal de Grande Instance and the justices of the peace in the 11 districts of the capital, but the justice of the peace in N’Djamena is not competent to hear criminal cases.

The FCDO cannot interfere with the judicial system. We cannot ask for your case to be judged more quickly just because you are British, or ask the authorities to waive any penalties.

First steps

What should happen after you are arrested

You will be arrested if there is a suspicion that you have committed an offence. Remain calm and co-operate with the police. Do not be abusive or violent, as it will make things worse and could result in additional charges. It is an offence to resist arrest.

The police will ask you to provide various personal details, including your nationality. Following arrest, the police may detain you for an initial period of up to 48 hours to conduct investigations. For a minor aged 13 to less than 18 years, the custody may not exceed 10 hours.

If you have any questions on the legal aspects of your arrest, contact your lawyer. See for a list of local English-speaking lawyers.

How long you can be remanded in custody

The period of detention can normally only be renewed once for a further 48 hours. However, for investigations into corruption and related offenses, the police can extend the custody period for the third time by an additional 48 hours.

The procedure for extending detention is authorised by the competent magistrate. S/he must ensure that there are serious indications of guilt against the person.

This authorisation should normally be in writing after the magistrate has determined, if necessary in person, that the person detained has not been subjected to any abuse. However, the instruction can be provided by phone provided that written confirmation is received within 12 hours.

The Chadian authorities are not legally obliged to inform us of the arrest of a British national. The Chadian authorities are obliged to inform you that you have a right to a lawyer and to a doctor.

You also have the right to ask the arresting officer to allow you to call the British High Commission in Yaoundé. The UK Government Office in N’Djamena does not provide consular services.

We will aim to contact you within 24 hours of being notified of your arrest. If you request a Consular visit, we will aim to do this within 48 hours (excluding weekends and public holidays). If distance makes it difficult for us to visit as soon as you would like, we will explain this and confirm a time period within which we will visit.

We can also help to put you in touch with the charity Fair Trials International.

Prisoners on remand and sentenced prisoners: differences

A person in pre-trial detention is an accused person who is exceptionally kept in prison in order to ensure his or her legal representation, or to prevent him or her from carrying out an activity likely to be detrimental to their case, to disturb public order or to put an end to the offence or to prevent its repetition.

Convicted persons, on the other hand, are persons who have been subjected to a public trial. The judge verifies his/her identity, reminds him/her of the facts for which s/he is being prosecuted. The debates have to take place in your presence and in the presence of your lawyer(s), and the evidence needs to be produced. When the judge considers the investigation at the hearing to be sufficient, the judge gives the floor for the pleadings. The victim is heard at his or her request, and then the public prosecutor makes his or her closing arguments. Finally, the defendant is always the last to speak to present his/her defence. If found guilty, the person in pre-trial detention becomes a convict.

Bail

You will normally appear before a judge immediately after your arrest. The judge will determine (a) whether you have been legally detained, and, if they are satisfied on that point, (b) whether you should be released on bail, or held on remand, until your next court hearing. The judge could provisionally release you without bail or could demand payment of a bond in cash.

If you are later convicted, part of the bond could be used to pay for the costs of the case or for fines/damages. The bail procedures are the same for Chadians and foreign nationals. If you are given bail, you will need to find sufficient funds to support yourself. We cannot provide funding or find you a job.

The FCDO cannot transfer bail funds.

Trial and legal assistance

Legal assistance: lawyers and legal aid

If you wish to hire a private lawyer, see for a list of English-speaking lawyers in Chad

Prisoners Abroad can also supply general (non-country specific) information on legal aid, court proceedings and can advise on appointing a lawyer.

The trial is the process by which your case shall be finally determined in an open court of law. During this process, you are asked to sit in a dock to face the charges against you. If you are in detention, police will take you to the court.

For serious cases, the State Prosecutor will present the case against you. The trial is between prosecution and defence and based on the production of evidence. The State Prosecutor can call up one or many witnesses and/ or present evidence to prove its case. Your lawyer can cross-examine the prosecution’s witnesses and/ or contest the evidence presented.

At the close of the prosecution’s case, it shall be the turn of your counsel to present your case in defence. During this phase, you are allowed to call your own witnesses and present documents to state your case. Please note that your case and witnesses shall be subject to a similar cross-examination by the prosecution. When the prosecution and you have presented their respective cases, the judge shall render a verdict on whether you are guilty or not guilty.

Judges can only base their decision on evidence which has been produced during the proceedings and adversely discussed before them. For minor offences, the justice of the peace acts as both the prosecutor and judge.

Appeals

Any of the parties to a criminal procedure can appeal against decisions taken at the various stages, if they are not satisfied with the outcome.

You can appeal against a decision to reject bail, the judgement and the sentence. Time limits for the appeal vary. You have ten days to file an appeal if you are convicted and sentenced in an open court. If you are imprisoned, you can appeal against the ruling on your provisional release date. If the Prosecutor appeals against the ruling on your provisional release date, you will be kept in detention until the appeal is heard.

Reaching the end of your sentence

Reduction of sentence (remission)

The reduction or remission of sentences exists in Chad. The Penal Code provides for this in Article 56, which states: ‘A pardon is the partial or total commutation or remission, conditional or otherwise, of sentences, security measures and probation obligations’, and Articles 655 to 666 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provide for the procedure of the reduction of sentences.

Transfer to another prison within Chad

Prisoners can be transferred from one prison to another on the basis of a decision of the prison administration. Various reasons for such transfer are prison work, security or disciplinary reasons and on your request as mentioned above.

Transfer to a prison in the UK

There is no Prisoner Transfer Agreement between Chad and the UK

Release and deportation

Sometimes people find that they face difficulties adjusting to life in the UK once they have left prison. You may find yourself ready for life on the outside but not prepared for living in the UK. You may not have lived in the UK before and have no connections there, or perhaps you have lost touch with friends and family. You may want to talk to another person who understands what you have been through, to help you consider what to do next.

If you are registered with Prisoners Abroad, you can visit Prisoners Abroad when you first arrive back in UK for advice, to use their temporary luggage store, make essential phone calls or use a computer. If you have no belongings Prisoners Abroad may be able to help with basic toiletries and finding suitable clothing. If you know your release date in advance you should tell the Prisoner and Family Support Team when you are likely to arrive and what help you think you might need. If you have no money and nowhere to go, Prisoners Abroad’s Resettlement Service can help with:

• advice on finding emergency accommodation in the London area

• claiming welfare benefits, including emergency benefit payments if you are destitute
• making appointments with doctors and dentists
• putting you in touch with local agencies if you are not returning to the London area

Later on you may want advice on housing, looking for work, applying for training or getting counselling. Prisoners Abroad can refer you to the right agency.

Other sources of practical help back in the UK are:

The Salvation Army

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7367 4888

Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm, or contact your local Salvation Army branch

The Prison Fellowship

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7799 2500

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Your criminal record in the UK

We will not normally pass on information about your case to a third party without your consent. However, if you’re arrested for certain serious offences, such as child sex abuse or drugs crimes, our staff must tell other relevant UK authorities. It is possible that information about this may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer.

Chapter 4: Additional information

Prisoners Abroad

Since 1978 the charity Prisoners Abroad has offered practical support and advice to British citizens imprisoned abroad. It is the only UK charity providing this service. It is available to all, whether guilty or innocent, convicted or awaiting charge or trial. Prisoners Abroad supports your health and welfare during your imprisonment. It can also provide support on your return to the UK, through their resettlement service (if you have registered whilst in prison). They can also provide support and advice to your family when you are in prison. To access any services, you must first register with Prisoners Abroad by signing and returning their authorisation form.

Once you seek help from Prisoners Abroad, the Prisoner & Family Support Service will be your point of contact for advice and information. The type of assistance they can offer varies from country to country, but generally they can provide you with information, in English, on:

• your rights as a prisoner
• issues that may affect you such as health or transfer to the UK
• getting magazines, newspapers, books and the regular Prisoners Abroad newsletter
• learning the language of your country of imprisonment
• translating documents
• grants for food if you are in a developing country and do not have funds from other sources
• grants for essential medicines and toiletries if you do not have funds from other sources
• preparing for release
• help for your loved ones, including information, family support groups and, in a few cases, assistance with the cost of visiting
• Freepost envelopes to help you stay in touch with others

Prisoners Abroad

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7561 6820 or 0808 172 0098

Mondays to Fridays 9:30am to 4:30pm (UK time)

89 – 93 Fonthill Road

London N4 3JH

UK

Annex

FCDO guidance: Support for British nationals abroad

FCDO guidance: Arrested abroad: advice for British nationals

List of English-Speaking Lawyers

Prisoners Abroad Forms