British nationals in detention or prison overseas

If a relative or friend has been detained or held in prison overseas, this is the support we can give.

If your relative or friend has asked us to, we will tell you as soon as we can, that they have been detained or held in prison. However, to protect their confidentiality, we will not provide any details of the detention or arrest, or tell you how to contact them, unless they have given us permission.

Prison conditions

We can provide general information about the country involved, prison conditions and the local legal system.

We can put you in touch with the prisoners’ welfare charity, Prisoners Abroad.

If the prison where your friend or relative is being detained agrees, we can pass on any money you want to send to buy prison ‘comforts’, use the phone and so on.

In many countries, mail sent or received by the prisoner will be opened and read by the authorities, and phone conversations may be monitored.

If you are arrested and charged with a serious offence, you can insist that the Embassy or nearest British Consulate is informed.  A consular official will visit you in custody as soon as possible after notification.

We can provide you with a list of English speaking lawyers, advise on local procedures and speak to your family in the UK, if you wish.  We cannot pay for a lawyer for you, but we can provide advice on the Austrian legal aid system under which British citizens may also claim.  We cannot persuade the authorities to release you or reduce the charges, and we cannot put up bail for you. If you are imprisoned in Austria, a British consular official will visit you periodically, as needs arise.
 

Prisoners Abroad is a UK based charity that offers support to prisoners detained overseas and their families:

Prisoners' Abroad
83-93 Fonthill Road
London  N4 3JH
Telephone: 00-44-20 7561 6820
Fax: 00-44-20 7561 6821
info@prisonersabroad.org.uk
www.prisonersabroad.org.uk