Help if you are arrested or detained
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.
Consular Section Contacts
The Consular Section of the British Embassy is located in Meadowlands (located in the northern area of Camp Prosperity on the northwestern tip of the International Zone. For directions, click here (Word, 21KB, Opens in a new window))
Opening Hours:
Sat – Thurs: 1000 to 1200 local time
Telephone:
During working hours: +964 7901 911 684
Outside working hour: +964 7901 935 149 or +1 914 360 9060
These telephone numbers should be used for emergencies involving British Nationals only.
E-mail us
We can help if a British citizen is arrested or detained overseas