British Expats in Trouble–Tips on Prevention
The top reasons Britons get into problems when abroad includes drink, drugs, lack of advance research and lack of good travel insurance.
Britons are still finding themselves in a lot of trouble when overseas according to the annual British Behaviour Abroad report. Most of this misbehaviour is linked to drink and drugs, but the misbehaviour is also due to poor research before they go resulting in breaking laws they didn’t know existed (which is never an excuse in foreign courts), and not having travel insurance or holding inadequate travel insurance that doesn’t cover hospital stays, loss of passport and other theft.
The report is based on figures from British Consulates around the world, an accumulation of incidences that stack up uncomfortably high for the British: in 2009 in Spain 5,400 Britons required consular assistance. Around 1,500 Britons were arrested in the United States. An amazing 2,500 British passports were ‘lost’ in Australia. These figures do not just represent football hooligans in Europe for the weekend or ravers in the Mediterranean islands, but include a surprisingly high number of expats around the world as well.
Do your Research!
In 2009 991 Britons were arrested worldwide for drug offences, accounting for one fifth of all offences committed by Britons overseas. Some of these arrests included arrests for drugs that are legal in the UK (i.e. codeine). Arrests were also made for topless sunbathing, swearing and public displays of affection (or more intimate-public displays of affection as one British couple experienced on the beaches of Dubai). It is essential that Britons carefully research the country they are moving to before they go.
Comprehensive Travel Insurance
The greatest number of Britons were hospitalised in Spain (741) and Greece (433), with France (203) and Thailand (198) following close behind. Comprehensive travel insurance ensures that accidents and theft are less likely to disrupt a holiday or short term living in another country. Many travel insurance packages also cover legal expenses and legal advisory services.
Around 5,600 deaths of UK citizens abroad were recorded in 2009, caused by including natural causes, accidental deaths and murders. Visiting your GP before you move or travel and ensure you have all important vaccinations and medicines you will need before going. Also investigate the nearest healthcare providers as soon as you arrive so you will not be stuck wondering where to go in an emergency.
Why do the British, with their reputation for good manners and rules, seem to run into such problems when abroad? Are the British so naive to believe that as foreigners they will be excused from following the same laws as the locals?
One of the main draws of the expat lifestyle for many people across many nationalities is the idea of anonymity, being free to be whom you are without being judged by people who know you. Perhaps the expats who flee the rules of their homeland simply want to let their hair down without the confines of British culture.
English people are the worst tourists. Most of the time drunk, always speaking loud, never trying to speak the local language…
No wonder why they have so much trouble.
Guillaume I know what you mean! However, I would add that only the English people you notice are the worst tourists. There are many thousands of English (or British) who learn the local language, who try to blend in, who enjoy immersing themselves in the local customs and culture–you just don’t notice them as much!
Oh if only all the Brits going overseas could see this. It would save hassle for some and prevent embarrassment for others–how awful some people act! I get embarrassed by the behaviour of others. I agree with Michelle that you simply dont see the people who on their best behaviour because they blend in. And actually I know a lot of people like that, more than I know of people who dont behave well.
Guillaume could also be speaking of too many of us Yanks. I remember flying ahead by private airline with a detachment command to Germany in ’82 and laying over at a German airport for a few hours in the wee hours of the night. Most everyone was trying to grab a few winks, but our obnoxiously loud crowd prevented that. From that day on, I travelled alone and with the help of my German/English dictionary, made many friends and wonderful memories.