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.

What we can do

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.  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 Denmark, a British consular official will visit you periodically, as needs arise.

Can a British prisoner be transferred home?

Prisoner exchange between the UK and Denmark is possible under an EU agreement allowing prisoners to serve their sentence in their own country.  The procedure is not automatic and is subject to the agreement of the judicial authorities in both countries.

Prisoners Abroad

There is a charitable organisation in the UK which exists to offer advice and assistance to British prisoners overseas and to their families.

Prisoner Abroad
89-93 Fonthill Road
London N4 3JH
Tel No: + 44 (0)20 7561 6820 
Fax No:  +44 (0)20 7561 6821
Email