Britons arrested abroad ‘failed by Foreign Office’

Fair Trials International (FTI) said that the FCO should do more to ensure Britons arrested abroad have access to lawyers and interpreters in order to help them to understand their rights and prepare a defence.

Jago Russell, chief executive of FTI, said: "Behind the FCO statistics there are shocking individual stories of torture and mistreatment by foreign police, arbitrary detention, grossly unfair trials and families torn apart." He added: "We are delighted that the UK Government is warning Britons of the consequences of criminal behaviour abroad, but for those who are arrested consular assistance is a vital public service."