Which countries have the most British arrests?

Spain, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates are the top three countries where British nationals have been arrested.

How many British nationals have been arrested overseas since 2016?

Since 2016, over 37,000 British nationals have been arrested in foreign countries.

What are common reasons for British arrests abroad?

While 92% of arrests are general or unknown, drug smuggling and sexual offenses account for 8% of incidents, and some common UK actions can also lead to penalties.

Home / Crime and Justice / Brits Abroad: Top Arrest Hotspots Revealed

Brits Abroad: Top Arrest Hotspots Revealed

30 Jan

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Summary

Spain, US, and UAE are top destinations for British arrests abroad.
Over 37,000 British nationals arrested overseas since 2016.
Drug smuggling and sexual offenses account for 8% of arrests.

Brits Abroad: Top Arrest Hotspots Revealed

New data reveals that over 37,000 British citizens have been arrested in foreign countries between 2016 and early 2024. Spain leads this list, with 8,998 arrests during the period, followed by the United States at 5,775 and the United Arab Emirates with 2,236 arrests.

In 2024 alone, 4,643 British nationals were arrested abroad, marking a 10% increase from the previous year and the highest annual total since before the pandemic. While drug smuggling and sexual offenses account for 8% of these arrests, the majority, 92%, are categorized as general or unknown offenses.

Travel insurance experts emphasize researching local laws, as common UK actions can lead to penalties abroad. Examples include public drinking in Madrid, which can incur fines up to €3,000, and possession of even small amounts of cannabis in Florida, which can lead to jail time.

This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.