Guidance

Information pack for British nationals arrested or detained in Laos

Published 28 May 2025

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, but they 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.

This detention information pack is designed to give you, and your family and friends, information about the local system in Laos and who can help.

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 (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 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 even if you don’t 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 London, and in British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates overseas.

The British Embassy in Laos

UK help and services in Laos - GOV.UK

British Embassy Vientiane, Rue Yokkabat, Ban Phonexay, Saysettha District, Vientiane, Lao PDR, PO Box 2304.

Telephone: +856 30 770 0000 (24-hour emergency number), Fax: +856 30 770 0010

Email: BritishEmbassy.Vientiane@fcdo.gov.uk

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 20 7008 5000.

What we can do

The FCDO can offer you impartial and non-judgemental help.

In Laos, formal notification by the authorities to the embassy can take several weeks or months after arrest. We often learn of an arrest informally from friends, family or consular contacts.

Once notified of your detention or arrest, consular staff will aim to contact you as soon as possible so that we can assess how we can help you.  In Laos, the British embassy must first get permission from the Laos Government to contact British people in detention. This can take significant time to be granted.

We aim to provide assistance according to your individual circumstances and local conditions.  Our priority is to provide assistance to British nationals overseas that need our help the most.

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 contact with you, either by visiting or by telephone/letter. The frequency of contact will depend on permissions being granted by the Loas authorities.
• 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 aren’t available, we may also be able to pass on messages and deliver letters to the prison (but generally we cannot arrange for delivery directly to you).

What we cannot do

• Get you out of prison or detention
• Help you get special treatment
• 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 can provide them with information about how to contact you in prison or detention. With your consent, we can also keep them updated on your well-being.

If you are not sure about informing your family, we can help you consider the impact that not doing so might have. 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 drugs trafficking, we are obliged to share information about your arrest with UK police. It is therefore possible that information about this may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer. There may be other circumstances in which information about you may need to be shared by ourselves or authorities in Laos.

Legal assistance: lawyers

We cannot give you 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 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 to 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, nor can we get special treatment for you because you are British. If you are not treated in line with internationally accepted standards we will consider whether to approach local authorities. This may include if your trial does not follow internationally recognised standards for fair trial 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 Laos

Visits – friends and family

Who can visit and how to arrange a visit

Visits by family and friends are only allowed after you have been formally charged with an offence.  Consular staff will then be able to arrange clearance for visits, especially those travelling from outside of Laos. As this must be done formally in writing, you should advise your visitors to give as much notice as possible and to supply passport numbers and personal details such as places and dates of birth, addresses, etc. Visitors are usually charged a fee for visiting of between £2 and £5 per visit.

Consular officers will provide assistance and advice for your family during their first visit to the prison.

There is no prescribed limit on the number of visits, especially for those bringing food for prisoners during weekdays. However, sometimes visits are cancelled without notice because the prison closes, for example a meeting is being held or a shortage of staff.

What to expect when you visit

British nationals will normally be detained at Phongtong Prison in Vientiane. You will require permission to visit and make yourself known on arrival.  Hand over any food or other supplies for the guards to inspect as they will take it into prison for the detainee. Anything that is available for purchase (such as toiletries) in the prison shop will be rejected or confiscated.

Visitor will be asked to sit outside a security grate and the person you are visiting will be brought to the other side for you to talk to.  Time will normally be strictly limited, and you are likely to be closely monitored.  Follow all instructions, do not try to bargain with the guards as they do not have the authority or discretion to make decisions.  All requests must be made formally via the embassy.

What you can take on your visit

There is no definitive list of items that visitors are allowed to bring. Visitors are generally able to bring items such as clothes, toiletries, books and magazines and food (items that are available in the prison shop are not allowed), although some reading material and newspapers may not be allowed depending on the content. Parcels brought into the prison will be searched by prison guards before being giving to prisoners.

Visits: Consular staff

There can be significant delays in having visits approved by the authorities.  Once you have been formally charged, we will aim to visit you every three months, but the frequency will depend on being granted approval.  In an emergency we will make an urgent request for an exceptional visit, but this may still take several days. During routine visits you will have the opportunity to discuss any health issues, security concerns, your treatment in prison and any other general issues that you wish to raise with our Consular staff. At each Consular visit, our staff will complete a “Visit Report Form”. If there is any information that you would prefer not to disclose to a Next-of-Kin you should let us know during the visit.

We will deliver complimentary toiletries, books and magazines when available. In case there is any item you may require, please let the Consular staff know with sufficient time before the next visit, as this may require time in order arrange authorisation and supply of the goods. Any goods you require us to buy for you will normally be deducted from your funds. These funds are normally provided either by Prisoner’s Abroad or family members.

Emergency trips outside of prison

The Consular team can make a formal request, but it is not normally possible to make a trip outside of prison if an urgent situation arises (e.g. funerals and critical illness of a prisoner’s next-of-kin)

Police custody and initial arrival at prison

Arrival at the police station: your basic rights

Under Article 62 of the Law on Criminal Procedure, an arrest should be accompanied by an order in writing from the public prosecutor or people’s court, except in the case of an on-the-spot arrest in an urgent case. This along with the cause for the arrest should be declared to the person being arrested.

In all arrest cases, the investigator should report in writing to the public prosecutor within 24 hours and take testimony from the arrested person and form an opinion whether to release, pending sentence, or remand within 48 hours.

In every case, the arrested person’s family and office/organisation/enterprise to which the individual is attached should be notified within 24 hours and also should be notified of the place of detention if it will not hinder the case proceedings.

It should be noted that this procedure, and indicated timings, are not routinely adhered to and there can be lengthy periods between each step of the process.

Appearing at court

There is no jury system in Laos. Trials are heard before a single judge.

At the start of a trial, the presiding judge must announce the names of the members of the judicial tribunal, the public prosecutor and the court clerk. The defendant has the right to request recusal of any of these named people.

After this, the judicial tribunal will hear the statements from the participants in the proceedings.  There is a right to ask other participants in the hearing additional questions with the approval of the presiding judge.  The public prosecutor will then give a final statement, followed by a last statement of the defendant or his lawyer.

The presiding judge will then declare a recess of the trial to make their decision, which should be pronounced in open court within 7 days.

Under Article 35 of the Law on Criminal Procedure, someone who does not know the Laos language must have a ‘protector’.  A protector may be a lawyer, organisation representative or close relative. If the accused person does not have a protector, the people’s court is required by law to appoint a lawyer.  This will only happen at the beginning of court proceedings.  As it can take between 2-3 years for a case to come before the court, access to family and a lawyer will be limited before the trial begins.

Initial arrival at the prison

Foreign prisoners are normally transferred to Phonthong prison in Vientiane after being sentenced by the court or prior to sentencing (in some cases).

Prisoners will be searched and routinely documented on arrival before being placed in the general prison population.  Valuables will be held by the arresting police and a receipt normally be given.

Access to phone calls is normally limited. Often guards will allow a prisoner to make a call using their personal phone. You should ask to speak to the British Embassy for assistance if you have no one else to call.

If a prisoner relies on medication, they have brought with them (e.g. insulin etc.) this will normally be held by the authorities and released to the inmate when needed. Prisoners keep and use their own clothing but, no toiletries are provided by the prison authorities.

Prison: conditions and daily life

Accommodation

Prison conditions in Laos are generally very poor and well below UK standards. Prisons are overcrowded with toilet facilities shared.  In Phonthong prison, prisoners share dormitories with separate rooms for men and women. Prisoners have to sleep on the floor, lying on a bedroll or mat provided by the prison authorities (in most cases).

Food and Diet

Prisoners are provided with a basic meal, typically sticky rice and a watery cabbage soup, once or twice a day. You will need extra food and vitamins to maintain basic health.   

Other food can be bought in the prison shop and there are cooking facilities in some prisons, although you may also need to purchase charcoal for cooking.

Family and friends can bring food to the prison for you. There are also some voluntary organisations in Laos providing food at Phonthong prison.

Hygiene

Conditions are generally poor.   Often only very basic with shared washing and toilet facilities.  Prisoners can buy toiletries at the prison shop.

Work and Study

Limited work and study opportunities are possible in prison. Prisoners are paid a small amount into their prison account for working.

Contact and Languages

Unless the prisoner is in solitary confinement then there is contact with other prisoners.

English is likely to be limited. Guards’ English language ability will vary and be limited.

There exist some provisions for recreational activities, though there are time restrictions on exercise. Phonthong prison has a TV, but English language programmes will be limited.

Detainees are not allowed to have phones, but guards will sometimes allow a call to be made using their personal phones.

Prisoners will need to obtain their own reading materials. There will not normally be any cultural or social activities on offer at the prison.

There is the possibility to request English language materials through the post from Prisoners Abroad (including language textbooks and dictionaries).

Exercise

Prisoners will mainly be allowed outside for short periods but there are not normally any exercise facilities, or any regular physical activities organised by the prison authorities.

Climate

The climate is different from the UK being very hot and humid. Temperatures in Vientiane can dip briefly to around 10c in the coldest part of winter.  Air conditioning and heating is not provided.  No clothing is provided.

Religion

Laos is a Buddhist country.  Other religions are tolerated in major population centres. There are no religious services in the prisons, but local Christian church groups do visit. There are no religious ministers on the prison staff.

Rules and regulations (including drugs)

Prison rules and regulations will be explained to prisoners with solitary confinement being used as a punishment for breaking these.

Trusted inmates are often given responsibilities and limited privileges.

In some prisons, drug abuse is rife. If you are caught holding or taking drugs, punishment can be severe with the death penalty for some drug offences remaining in force.

If you are concerned about your safety, make a request to speak to your lawyer or the embassy as soon as possible.

Prison: access to help and services

Receiving money

The embassy in unable to transfer money sent to you by family and friends until it has been granted permission to visit you in prison.  Permission is only granted after you have been formally charged.  As visits can be infrequent due to requiring formal permission, transferring money via the embassy is not a practical option.  The means of transferring money vary between prisons.  Advice on what options are available will be provided by the embassy. 

There are two ways in which you may be able to receive financial assistance while in prison.

• Private Funds: Deposited to you by your family or friends via bank transfers or international money transfer services, e.g. Western Union.   Advice on how this can be arranged will be provided during a visit by consular staff.

• Prisoners Abroad: Depending on where you are detained, if your family can’t 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.  This is only permitted after the embassy has been granted permission to visit you in prison.

The FCDO operates a “Prison Comfort” system for money transfers to prisoners. Please ask your family 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.  Prisoners may be eligible for the three Prisoners Abroad Funds (the Craig Feehan Fund, the Vitamin Fund and the Medical Fund).

Medical and dental treatment

While you are in detention, Laos is responsible for ensuring your basic medical needs are met. Medical care in Vientiane is extremely basic and outside the capital there are no reliable facilities to deal with medical emergencies.

If the doctor at the place of detention cannot provide sufficient medical treatment, officers in charge of the place of detention can send the person for treatment at a state/public hospital, under Article 115 of the Law on Criminal Procedure. Officially, expenses relating to the treatment are the responsibility of the state, although in practice, the prisoner or his family may be required to pay for medical treatment.

Laos law only allows for treatment at a state/public hospital, not at private facilities. Usually, prisoners are taken to hospital by the police. If medical treatment is required, you can request to be taken to a different hospital but if this request is granted you would need to pay for transport to the hospital and for the guard’s time taking and guarding you at the hospital.

There is a prison doctor who would hold any medication required and give this out in accordance with the prescription instructions.

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

Letters and parcels

Letters, but not parcels, can be sent via the British embassy and can be handed to a consular officer when he/she visits the prison. The embassy no longer accepts parcels sent by friends or family. Any received will be returned to the sender.

If you would like your family in the UK or elsewhere to email you, then please let them know that they may do so via our central email box: BritishEmbassy.Vientiane@fcdo.gov.uk

Messages from prisoners to their family and friends can only be sent if they can provide the embassy with an email address. The messages will be forwarded to the families in 20 working days. The embassy cannot forward letters from prisoners by post.

Telephone calls

Making telephone calls from prison is limited although prisoners have managed to make calls before, but this is at the discretion of the prison authorities, there is no formal system for this.

Prisoners are not allowed mobile phones.

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 judicial system in Laos

Overview

The Laos legal and judicial systems are not the same as in the UK.  If you are under a criminal investigation, you can be detained for long periods without evidence or official charges.  There can be long delays before you can contact a lawyer, British Embassy officials or family.  The quality of legal representation is below UK standards.

You should never sign anything you cannot read.

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

Under Article 62 of the Law on Criminal Procedure, an arrest should be accompanied by an order in writing from the public prosecutor or people’s court, except in the case of an on-the-spot arrest in an urgent case. This along with the cause for the arrest should be declared to the person being arrested.

In all arrest cases, the investigator should report in writing to the public prosecutor within 24 hours and take testimony from the arrested person and form an opinion whether to release, pending sentence, or remand within 48 hours.

In every case, the arrested person’s family and office/organisation/enterprise to which the individual is attached should be notified within 24 hours and they should be notified of the place of detention if it will not hinder the case proceedings. 

It should be noted that this procedure, and indicated timings, are not routinely adhered to and there can be lengthy periods between each step of the process.

If you have any questions on the legal aspects of your arrest, you should contact your lawyer.  Your lawyer may not be given access to you at all times, and it may be difficult to obtain advice.

How long you can be remanded in custody

Under Article 65 of the Law on Criminal Procedure, the total period of remand should not exceed 3 months for minor offences and 1 year for major offences.  But in practice, this does not happen as you can be held in remand for between 3 to 5 years.

Detainees can be held at detentions centres, police stations or transferred to a prison where there is not usually a separation or more lenient treatment of inmates.

After you are charged

Once the public prosecutor receives a case from the investigator, if there is sufficient information and evidence, the public prosecutor will issue an order to prosecute the accused person in court.

Under Article 75 of the Law on Criminal Procedure, the court shall consider the case within one month of receiving this order. The case will be assigned to one judge to review and if it is deemed that the investigation was conducted correctly and completely, to set a time for the court hearing.

Bail

Article 66 of the Law on Criminal Procedure provides for pre-sentencing release for minor offences if the public prosecutor is satisfied that the accused person will not flee Laos, destroy evidence, commit further offences, hurt others or be hurt themselves. If release is requested by the accused’s family, representative or organisation, release may require an appropriate bail fee. Release is prohibited for major offences.

The FCDO is not able to facilitate the transfer of bail funds.

Trial and legal assistance

Legal assistance: lawyers and legal aid

If you wish to hire a private lawyer, see Find a professional service abroad. Prisoners Abroad can also supply information on legal aid, court proceedings and can advise on appointing a lawyer.

Consular staff cannot give legal advice, but they can provide a list of lawyers, all of whom speak English.  You can hire a lawyer for yourself at any time after your arrest.  Normally if you hire a private lawyer they will ask you for a cash advance of their estimated legal fees before agreeing to represent you.  The British embassy cannot pay legal fees or give a guarantee to a lawyer that you will pay them.

Under Article 35 of the Law on Criminal Procedure, someone who does not know the Laos language must have a ‘protector’.  A protector may be a lawyer, organisation representative or close relative. If the accused person does not have a protector, the people’s court is required by law to appoint a lawyer.

There is no formal legal aid system although some lawyers may provide pro-bono services.

Trial

There is no jury system in Laos. Trials are heard by a single judge.

At the start of a trial, the presiding judge must announce the names of the members of the judicial tribunal, the public prosecutor and the court clerk. The defendant has the right to request recusal of any of these named people.

Thereafter, the judicial tribunal shall hear the statements from the participants in the proceedings. There is a right to ask other participants in the hearing additional questions with the approval of the presiding judge. The public prosecutor will then give a final statement, followed by a last statement of the defendant or his lawyer.

The presiding judge will then declare a recess of the trial in order to make a decision, which should be pronounced in open court within 7 days.

Sentences

Most foreign nationals will serve their sentence at Phonthong prison in Vientiane.

Sentences will vary from case-to-case, and you are advised to speak to your lawyer.

Upon release, British nationals are normally deported to the UK. An airline ticket must be purchased by friends or family (not the British embassy) before deportation can take place.

Appeals

A request for appeal or objection to the decision must be made within 20 days from the date when a decision was read out or the date the concerned party was informed (Article 86 of the Law on Criminal Procedure). An appeal should be made to the court of first instance who will in turn submit this to the court of appeal.

Reaching the end of your sentence

Reduction of sentence (remission)

Any period held in remand awaiting trial will be decided upon by the judge when calculating the length of imprisonment.  It cannot be assumed that time served while in remand will be automatically included in deciding the length of your sentence.  

Clemency or pardon

Pardons may be granted by the President of the State on the occasion of important days of the nation or by an amnesty resolution of the National Assembly.

Your lawyer is best placed to advise you on the possibility of clemency or pardon.

Financial penalties

Financial penalties are determined by the court within the limits prescribed in the Penal Law, depending on the offence committed.  Should an offender not have the money to pay a fine, the Penal Law provides that the court may commute a fine to a penalty of re-education without deprivation of liberty. This involves 5-25% of a person’s salary being paid directly to the State to cover the fine.

The Penal Law forbids the payment of a fine to either avoid or reduce the length of a sentence.  Time served does not reduce or remove a fine. 

Transfer to another prison within Laos

If you are detained initially in a provincial prison, you will usually be transferred to the foreigner prison in Vientiane, named Phonthong. Prisoners have been transferred by the Laos authorities temporarily to other prisons, but this cannot be requested.

Transfer to a prison in the UK

A prisoner transfer agreement between Laos and the UK came into force on 29 September 2009.

Release and deportation

Article 105 of the Law on Criminal Procedure provides that release from prison should occur immediately on the completion of a sentence. If fines or compensation remain outstanding, measures will be put in place to prevent the person exiting the country until the compensation or fine is paid in full.

Once a prisoner is eligible for release, the committee in charge of the prison may ask the person to write and swear an oath of good behaviour or allegiance to the state and society.

Usually, foreign prisoners are deported back to their home country following release from prison.

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. Possibly you have never lived in the UK and have no connections there, or perhaps you have lost touch with friends and family. You may simply 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 arrange an appointment with their Resettlement Team when you first arrive back in UK. They can help with for advice, 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 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 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 you may want advice on housing, looking for work, applying for training or counselling. Prisoners Abroad can refer you to the right agency.

Other sources of practical help back in the UK are:

The Salvation Army[https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/]

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7367 4888
Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm, or contact your local Salvation Army branch

The Prison Fellowship[https://prisonfellowship.org.uk/]

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

Additional Information

Volunteer Workers

Local churches are involved in providing relief and support to prisoners mostly in Phonthong prison, Vientiane.  If you would like their assistance, please ask a consular officer when they visit the prison and they will pass on your details with your consent.

Unrepresented Commonwealth & Irish Nationals

On occasion, The British Consulate is able to provide consular assistance to unrepresented Commonwealth and Irish nationals. Any assistance provided to unrepresented nationals must be in agreement with the authority of their own country, often through contact with their closest embassy or High Commission, for example in Hanoi, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.

Assistance provided to unrepresented nationals may just be a ‘first response’ only, and they are not automatically entitled to all the services listed in this document – especially Prisoners Abroad agreements.

Prisoners Abroad

Since 1978 the charity Prisoners Abroad [https://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/] 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
Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4:30pm (UK time)
89 – 93 Fonthill Road
London N4 3JH
UK

Annex

FCDO guidance: Support for British nationals abroad

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-british-nationals-abroad-a-guide

FCDO guidance: Arrested abroad: advice for British nationals

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/arrest-or-detention/arrested-abroad-advice-for-british-nationals

List of English-Speaking Lawyers

https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers/country

List of Private Translators/Interpreters

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/professional-services-if-you-are-abroad

Prisoners Abroad Forms

https://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/arrest-and-imprisonment