Details on Safety and Security

• Pick pocketing and handbag snatching are common in many cities, towns and resorts abroad. Passports, credit cards, travel tickets and money should not be carried together in handbags or pockets.
• Visitors should be wary of approaches by strangers either asking for directions or asking for help of any kind. These approaches are sometimes ploys to distract attention while accomplices make off with valuables or possessions.
• Beware of scratch card promotions; do not be persuaded to go to a presentation on property sales. Take care not to sign anything or give your personal financial details to anyone without first obtaining independent financial advice.
• Carry only as much money as you need for the day.
• If you have to carry a lot of money ask your partner or a friend to carry some for you.
• Use a money belt or secure inside pocket. If available, use the hotel or room safe.
• Don’t carry all your cards with you - leave at least one in the hotel safe. If you lose or have your credit card stole cancel it by phoning the relevant emergency number.
• Keep your tickets in a safe place.
• Keep your passport in the hotel safe and carry a photocopy with you.
• Take sensible precautions: avoid unlit streets at night.
• It is normally safer not to resist violent theft.
• Make a list of your personal items before you go - photograph valuable items – be prepared to provide details of the items stolen to the police.
• If you have arranged travel insurance, your policy may provide limited cover for theft and may also cover personal injuries received as a result of crime. The policy is likely to require that the incident was reported to the police in the relevant country at the time. Check what your policy covers with your insurance company before travelling.
• Tell the local police as soon as possible and ask for a police report (needed for any insurance and/or compensation claim). Inform the representative of the tour operator or hotel management if the theft occurred on their premises.
• A personal accident or sickness policy may cover medical expenses within stated financial and geographical limits.
• Cancel your credit cards and re-book your travel tickets where that is necessary.
• Contact the British Consulate, especially if your passport has been stolen. The Consul, after some checks, will issue you with another.
• Obey the Law - Laws vary from country to country; so does the treatment of offenders.
• Remember, the laws and procedures which apply are those of the country you are in, not ours. So find out about local laws and customs and respect them.
• Hobbies like bird watching and train spotting and the use of cameras and binoculars can be misunderstood (particularly near military sites). If you are not sure, don’t do it - it is not worth the risk of being wrongly arrested for spying.
• DO NOT get involved with drugs. You could face massive fines, long prison sentences in grim conditions, or even the death penalty.
• DO NOT carry parcels or drive vehicles across borders for other people.
• If you are in someone else’s vehicle DO NOT cross the border in it - get out and walk across the border, you do not know what might be in the vehicle
• There are strict laws about taking alcohol into some countries.
• Many countries do not allow alcohol to be sold or to be drunk.
• Be aware of local laws on alcohol.
• If there is a natural or man made disaster contact your family and friends to let them know that you are safe and healthy - ask your tour operator before you go what emergency contact procedures they have in place should an emergency arise.
• Make sure you make contact even if you are not that close to the problem - remember family and friends will not know exactly where you are but they will worry if they think you are in potential danger.
• When you arrive at your desitination, note down emergency numbers. Within the European Union you may be able to use - 112 - this will connect you directly to the emergency services. Remember, they may not speak English - be calm, let them try to sort out the language difficulty! If you do not get connected through 112 - use the local emergency number. For more information on the European Emergency Number Association visit their website or the European Civil Protection website.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 at 4:49 pm and is filed under Action, General Safety, Prepare, Prepare for Personal Safety, Travel Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.