Guidance

Information pack for British prisoners in South Sudan

Updated 22 June 2023

Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be definitive, and is not a substitute for independent legal advice. Neither His Majesty’s Government nor its staff take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information, nor accept liability for any loss, costs, damage, or expense that you might suffer as a result of relying on the information. The information contained in this guide is general and factual. You should contact Local Lawyers for independent legal advice.

Information Pack for British Nationals detained or imprisoned in South Sudan

Author British High Commission Nairobi

Date: 22 June 2023

Chapter 1: Key points

• Overview
• First steps

Chapter 2: Detention conditions in South Sudan

• Visits: friends and family
• Police custody and initial arrival at prison
• Prison: conditions and daily life
• Prison: access to help and services

Chapter 3: The South Sudan judicial system

• Overview
• First steps
• Trial and legal assistance
• Reaching the end of your sentence

Chapter 4: Additional information

• Additional information
• Prisoners Abroad
• Glossary of terms
• Annexes

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 South Sudan 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.

There are no consular staff at the British Embassy in Juba. Consular assistance is provided remotely by the British High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya.

Contact Information

Consular Section
British High Commission Nairobi
Upper Hill Road
P.O Box 30465 – 00100
Nairobi
Kenya

Telephone Number

+254 (0) 202 844 000 or +254 (0)202 873 000

Email

Use our contact form for consular enquiries: www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-juba

Website

www.gov.uk/government/world/south-sudan

Office Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 7:15 am - 3:30pm

Friday: 7:45am - 12:30pm

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 South Sudan, notification by the authorities to the consulate does not normally take place. We may hear about your detention from family members or employers.

We can also:

• provide a list of local English-speaking lawyers. See also Find a lawyer Abroad (fcdo.gov.uk)
• 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, by telephone. 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)

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 drugs 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 South Sudan.

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 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 South Sudan

Visits: friends and family

Who can visit and how to arrange visits

Family and friends are permitted to visit inmates in person, but all visits must be prearranged. If your family and friends decide to visit you, they can arrange this directly with the prison authorities.

We can provide guidance on visiting the prison, and what they can and cannot take in. You should advise any potential UK visitors to contact us via the FCDO in London, giving as much notice as possible.

Each prison has its own rules regarding visits and prison authorities may refuse visits by non-relatives. The prison can also refuse visitors if you are being disciplined because of bad behaviour, or if a visit will prejudice your court case.

When your family notify us of their intention to visit you in prison, we will provide them with details of the number of visits allowed.

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

What to expect when you visit

Visitors should arrive in good time during each visit, and should bring their passports or travel documents for identification purposes. For security reasons those persons will be checked as well as their belongings.

Internal regulations will establish the place, frequency and duration of ordinary visits and may be based on your behaviour, the prison’s security level and the spaces available for this purpose. It may also depend on your security classification and the offence for which you have been detained.

If your family are travelling a long distance, such as from the UK, we can try to request extra visits for them. However, this cannot be guaranteed.

What you can take on your visit

Regulations about permitted items vary from one prison to another in South Sudan and the rules are frequently changed. Therefore, families should contact the FCDO in advance of their visit so we can enquire from the prison authorities what will be accepted.

Visits: consular staff

Consular assistance for individuals in South Sudan is provided remotely by the British High Commission in Nairobi. Contact with consular officials will therefore usually be by telephone.

We will aim to contact you within 24 hours of being notified of your arrest or detention to assess your situation. We will aim to contact you once before sentencing and quarterly after sentencing unless you are vulnerable.

During our routine conversations 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.

You can write to us at any time on matters of concern by completing our contact form for consular enquiries www.gov.uk/contact-consulate-juba, but if it is urgent it may be quicker to ask prison authorities to contact us on your behalf through the following telephone numbers +254 (0) 202 844 000 or +254 (0)202 873 000.

Emergency trips outside of prison

Prisoners are not allowed to make any trips outside of prison no matter how urgent the situation may be.

Police custody and initial arrival at prison

Arriving at the police station: your basic rights

Once you have been arrested you will be taken to the relevant police station where you will be searched and placed in custody. When you arrive at police station you should be informed of your rights as an arrested person which include the reason for arrest and charges against you and your right to contact a lawyer of your choice.

You should be given the opportunity to contact the British Embassy. If this is not offered then you need to make a request. It is your right. In case of any language barriers, you have the right to be assisted by an official translator for free.

If you are charged with an offence and not released by police, the law provides that you should be taken to court within 24 hours. You may be detained for a further period with the consent of the court until the conclusion of investigation but this should not be for more than three months unless authorised by the relevant Court of Appeal.

When investigations are complete and charges have been filed, you should be transferred to prison for a period not exceeding one month while you await trial.

Remember that you should never sign anything you cannot read. If you find yourself under pressure to sign any documents, ask to speak to your lawyer.

Those who are detained in police cells on remand are not given food and as such they rely on well-wishers, relatives and friends to bring them food. The law provides that you have a right to obtain a reasonable amount of food at your own cost.

Appearing at court

When investigations are complete and a charge has been framed you will be presented in court where you will be charged and the alleged offence read out to you. However, if investigations are not complete the prosecution may request the court for additional time to complete investigations before you can be formally charged in court. State-appointed legal aid is only given to those charged with serious offences and proceedings are usually in English or Arabic depending on the language that the accused understands. However, the accused has a right to be assisted by an interpreter.

In practice, if investigations are complete and a charge has been framed against you as a foreigner, you may be deported by the authorities without being presented to court.

More information about the South Sudan judicial system can be found in Chapter 3.

Initial arrival at the prison

Prisoners are searched upon arrival at prison. Any belongings that are not part of the investigation, process, or evidence will be bagged and kept in storage by the prison authorities and returned to you on release. It is not unusual for some belongings to go missing.

The British Embassy cannot store your personal belongings on your behalf. Your passport will usually be retained by the local authorities until the end of your sentence.

You can request to make a phone call if you need to. Ordinarily the police would allow you to call local numbers for either the consulate or your employer if you were employed in South Sudan.

Prisoners who are on medication and have brought it with them will have to leave it with the prison medical staff who will grant access for usage.

Prisoners in South Sudan wear uniforms and you may only be allowed to use your own clothing when there is a shortage.

Prison: conditions and daily life

Prison conditions in South Sudan are considerably poorer than conditions in UK prisons. Most prisons in South Sudan lack basic infrastructure, especially outside of Juba, the state capital.

According to the Human Rights Watch report, “Prison Is Not For Me”: Arbitrary Detentions in South Sudan, released in June 2012, (https://www.hrw.org/reports/southsudan0612_insert_LOW_WITH_COVER.pdf) prisons in South Sudan do not comply with international and domestic law and standards on prisoners’ welfare.

Accommodation

Prisons do not usually have different holding cells for various types of detainees such as those on remand, convicts, adults and children. However, men and women are usually held in separate cells.

Overcrowding is a severe problem and there may be instances of lack of adequate meals, clean drinking water and electricity and poor sanitation. Many dormitories do not have internal toilet facilities and prisoners have to use containers (jerry cans), especially at night. Most dormitories also have poor ventilation.

Food and diet

The prison authorities state that the food they provide is a balanced diet giving the necessary daily nutritional requirements. A basic diet mostly consists of local food available in South Sudan such as sorghum, beans, bread and green vegetables.

Those in remand held either in police cells or prisons rely on well-wishers, relatives and friends to provide food. You can supplement your diet by buying food items from the prison shop, when available. Clean drinking water is not guaranteed as there is limited supply of water.

Hygiene

Shower/bathing facilities are limited and water, soap and other sanitary supplies are insufficient. You can buy additional toiletries from the prison shop when available. It is therefore common for prisoners to spend a long time without taking a bath or shower.

Work and study

Work is not available for prisoners in South Sudan.

Learning and development opportunities may vary from prison to prison but generally prisons have basic rehabilitation programs which are used to enable inmates to acquire skills in various crafts. Juba, Wau and Malakal Central Prisons have well established Vocational Training Centres which offer training in different fields such as food processing, plumbing, electrical and auto mechanic skills, tailoring, hair dressing, carpentry, masonry, metal work, fashion design and agriculture.

Study opportunities may also be available and the prison will usually offer the South Sudanese educational curriculum. Consular staff can request full details of this as soon as a person is assigned to a facility.

Contact and languages

You should be allowed to interact with others unless you are isolated as a form of punishment or due to other reasons.

English and Arabic are widely spoken by the prison guards. Detainees do not have direct access to phones, writing materials and the internet, however these can be accessed through the prison office.

While English books are available, their supply is inadequate.

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

Exercise

Prisons in South Sudan are basic and leisure facilities are limited. Prisoners are permitted to move around occasionally. Prison authorities do not organize regular exercises. However the law provides that the Public Prosecution Attorney may direct the officer-in-charge of a police station to grant detainees minimum time for exercise.

Climate

South Sudan experiences a tropical climate which is hot all year round. Temperature averages are normally above 25°C, with highs exceeding 35°C, particularly during the dry season (January to April) while it is humid during the rainy season.

Sometimes the clothing provided in prison may not be suitable for the prevailing weather conditions.

Religion

Prisoners have freedom of worship and the right to receive visits from a priest, rabbi or minister of faith. Prisons also have religious ministers attached to them.

Rules and regulations (including drugs)

Prison authorities usually explain prison rules and regulations to prisoners. Varied forms of punishment may be applied for bad behaviour depending on the circumstances.

Voluntary HIV counselling and testing is rarely offered to prisoners in South Sudan, and the prevalence rate among inmates is unknown. Therefore, there is risk of prisoners using drugs contracting infectious diseases.

Any type of drug trafficking in prison is an offence punishable in law. It is also illegal to take illegal drugs and cigarettes in prison. If you are caught with illegal drugs or cigarettes you will be punished accordingly.

If you have any issues regarding your safety, please inform Consular staff as soon as it is safe for you to do so. We will then do our best to discuss the allegations, and inform you of any local complaints procedures and supportive organisations that you may wish to consider.

Prison: access to help and services

Receiving money

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.

See Chapter 4 for more details.

Money received from the UK will be converted into local currency and held on your behalf by the High Commission. Our Consular staff will then transfer your funds to the Prisons Welfare officer once a month. Any cash you receive will not be handed over to you. All cash is kept by the Welfare Office. You are not allowed to keep cash while in prison.

Please note that our consular staff cannot be responsible for the loss of funds by the Prison Authorities.

Medical and Dental treatment

While you are in detention, South Sudan is responsible for ensuring your basic medical needs are met. If you need medical or dental treatment, you should make an appointment to see the prison medical officer who will provide routine treatment. However, not all prisons have clinics equipped to provide basic health care. For more serious complaints you should be referred to the nearest public hospital.

Medical services are offered free of charge but as the government system is relatively overwhelmed the supply of medicine available in prison clinics is both limited and erratic. Even routine medical supplies often run out. In many cases you may have to buy your own medicine.

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 contact your GP in the UK, if the police or prison doctor requests previous medical records.

Letters and parcels

You can receive parcels from your family with permission from the prison authorities. Please be aware that parcels should be sent directly to the prison; parcels sent to the High Commission will not be forwarded to you. Parcels must have the name and details of the sender and receiver.

Telephone calls

Prisoners are not allowed to have phones. All phone calls must be made from the prison office with permission from prison authorities and using their telephone. If you are caught trying to use a mobile phone inside the prison you will be punished according to the prison’s regulations and you may be sent to confinement for a period of time. Frequency and duration of calls depend on the rules set by the management of each prison.

Making a complaint about mistreatment

If you have been mistreated, please 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 inform you of 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, please try to see a doctor, obtain a medical report and if possible photos of the injuries you received.

You can also inform your lawyer or the Human Rights Commissioner during inspections of jails about police treatment or the Magistrate.

Chapter 3: The South Sudan judicial system

Overview

The South Sudanese Judicial System and the UK Judicial System have some similarities. For example, under the constitution, prisoners are presumed innocent until proven guilty; they have a right to legal representation, interpreter, fair trial and appeal. However there are fundamental differences.

For example, the South Sudanese judicial system is extremely backlogged. Insufficient staffing and a lack of resources mean it is extremely hard to achieve anything quickly. Prisoners can remain in prison without sentence for considerable periods.

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?

If you are arrested or detained you should be informed immediately, in a language that you understand, of the reasons for your arrest and your rights as an arrested person. You should inform the authorities if you wish the British Embassy to be informed of your arrest.

You will usually be taken to a holding cell or detention centre and if you are not released on bond you should be produced in court within 24 hours where you will either be remanded in custody or granted bail by the court.

If you have any questions on the legal aspects of your arrest, contact your lawyer. See a list of local English-speaking lawyers, Find a lawyer Abroad (fcdo.gov.uk)

How long you can be remanded in custody

You should only be remanded in custody whilst the authorities conduct their investigation. You will be presented to court periodically, and the prosecutor has to satisfy the court that your continued detention is justified. The police can remand you for purposes of investigation for a maximum of 24 hours, the Public Prosecution Attorney for 7 days and a magistrate or court for 2 weeks.

Except with the approval of the competent President of the Court of Appeal, no arrested person should be detained for a period exceeding three months. However, you have the right to seek bail at the conclusion of investigation.

A magistrate or court can also remand you for the purpose of trial for a period not exceeding six months unless authorised by the President of the Court of Appeal.

If you believe that the time spent on remand is excessive, this should be raised with your lawyer. If your lawyer feels that this time is outside of the scope of the local law and/or they felt due process had not been followed, we along with our legal advisers would then be able to consider whether this presents us with sufficient grounds to intervene under international law.

Prisoners on remand and sentenced prisoners: differences

Prisoners on remand will be detained at a police station or prison depending on the seriousness of the offence. Sentenced prisons will be detained in a prison.

While sentenced prisoners are given food, clothing and cultural materials by the government, remand prisoners obtain these at their own cost.

After you are charged

When you are charged you will be brought before a court for pre-trial hearing in which the court’s jurisdiction for hearing the case will be determined. Detainees will be made aware of their rights.

The preliminary court appearance shall be at the magistrates’ court or high court, depending on the nature of your offence.

Bail

Most detainees have a right to apply for bail but there are exceptions. For example, a person accused of an offence punishable with death cannot be released on bail and a person accused of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding ten years is not ordinarily released on bail.

The decision to grant bail rests with the magistrate or judge and your lawyer is responsible for submitting this application to the court. Bail cannot be considered during the First Hearing until investigation is concluded.

If your application for bail is denied in the first instance you have the right to appeal. It is important to note that bail comes with conditions that may include depositing your passport with the authorities until the conclusion of your case.

Common bail conditions include that you will not interfere with proper investigation of the offence, that you will appear when summoned and that you do not pose a serious risk to the public or the victim in case of a criminal offence.

If you fail to adhere to your bail conditions, a warrant of arrest may be issued against you. You may also be re-arrested and detained.

The FCDO cannot transfer bail funds.

Trial and legal assistance

Legal assistance: lawyers and legal aid

The South Sudanese authorities will expect you to engage and pay for a lawyer yourself. You can hire a lawyer at any time after your arrest. If you wish to hire a private lawyer, see for a list of English-speaking lawyers. Find a lawyer Abroad (fcdo.gov.uk) . Prisoners Abroad can also supply general (non-country specific) information on legal aid, court proceedings and can advise on appointing a lawyer.

If you are unable to afford a lawyer, free legal advice should be given to you at your request. However, in practice, state-appointed legal advice is usually limited to those charged with serious offences. Legal aid in South Sudan is primarily administered through local and international NGOs, including the South Sudan Law Society. You may wish to contact the South Sudan Law Society for further information and to apply for legal aid. Legal aid covers legal advice and/or representation of victims in court.

Trial

On the day of your trial you will be taken to the court where your case is being heard. There will be a magistrate or judge in charge of your case along with the Public Prosecution Attorney and your lawyer or Public Defender.

At this stage the jurisdiction of the court has already been confirmed and the case will be prosecuted. Statements on oath of the investigator, complainant/prosecution and statements of the witnesses will be read out and cross examination done. After that the court will examine the accused, confession (if applicable) will be read to the accused and if there is no evidence against the accused, the case should be dismissed.

Shorter, summary trials will usually be conducted for minor offences while serious offences will attract non-summary trials.

The courts will inform you, your lawyer and, if applicable the prison, of their decision.

You will be remanded in custody for the whole process until you receive your sentence or are acquitted. Court proceedings in South Sudan can take a long time to be completed.

Sentences

Sentencing guidelines are set out in South Sudan’s Penal Code. The penalty for an offence can range from a reprimand to a fine and/or a prison sentence. British nationals may be deported to the UK upon release even if this was not their place of residence prior to imprisonment.

Appeals

Any aggrieved party can appeal and every appeal or petition of appeal should be presented within 15 days after the pronouncement of a sentence or the making of an order.

Reaching the end of your sentence

Reduction of sentence (remission)

Suspension of a sentence or remission can be granted on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice. It may be granted with or without conditions.

Early release

To qualify for early release, your sentence must be below seven years. You must have no previous sentence of an imprisonment exceeding six months. When considering early release, the court also considers your age, character and history.

Clemency or pardon

Pardon and clemency can only be granted by the President of South Sudan.

Financial penalties

Depending on the offence, fines are part of the sentencing system, especially in civil cases.

Transfer to another prison within South Sudan

The prison authorities can impose transfers between prisons in South Sudan for disciplinary or overcrowding reasons. This is an internal administrative procedure by the prison authorities.

Transfer to a prison in the UK

The UK does not have a Prisoner Transfer Agreement with South Sudan. Transfer to a UK prison is not possible.

Release and deportation

Any British Citizen serving a prison term may be liable for deportation to the UK at the end of that term.

If you are to be deported, at the end of your prison sentence you will be released into the custody of the South Sudanese Immigration authorities, who will hold you in immigration detention whilst they arrange your deportation. This may only take a matter of days, especially if your passport is still valid.

However, if your passport has expired, or has less than 6 months validity remaining, you might need to obtain a new passport or an Emergency Travel Document before you can be deported. This could take several days, depending on what documentation you have. To avoid deportation delays, we recommend that you check your passport status well in advance of your release and deportation.

If you are deported, you may be excluded from returning to South Sudan for a given period. Depending on the severity of the offence you were imprisoned for, this might be a permanent exclusion.

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

Additional Information

Prisoners Abroad

South Sudan Law Society

The South Sudan Law Society is a civil society organisation based in Juba, the state capital. The South Sudan Law Society may be able to provide free legal advice to you if you would otherwise be unable to afford it. It operates a number of legal aid clinics that provide free legal advice, mediation and courtroom representation in Juba, Yeti, Torit, Budi, Ikotos, Akobo, Renk, Yambio and Rumbek.

You can contact the South Sudan Law Society on +211 955 518 206 or +211 955 518 206 or by email at info@sslawsociety.org.

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
89 – 93 Fonthill Road
London N4 3JH
UK

Telephone	00 44 (0)20 7561 6820
Freephone (for your relatives in the UK)	0808 172 0098
Email	info@prisonersabroad.org.uk
Website	https://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk

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

Annex

• FCDO guidance: Support for British Nationals Abroad

• 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 Find a professional service abroad - Find a lawyer Abroad (fcdo.gov.uk)

• Prisoners Abroad Forms