LONDON, July 11 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

* FCDO highlights some of the more unusual enquiries received by consular staff to remind travellers whatsupport they can provideBritish nationals overseas. * Brits heading on summer holidays urged to check FCDO Travel Advice and sign up for email alerts before they travel. * Travellers encouraged to take simple steps such as getting travel insurance, checking Travel Advice for information on local laws and keeping passports safe to avoid preventable problems while abroad.

Asmillions of Brits prepare to jet overseas for summer holidays, consular staff at UK embassies, high commissions and consulates around the world will be working around the clockto support British nationals abroad.

From lost passports to medical emergencies, staff at UK embassies and consulates overseas have dealt with more than 328,000 enquiries and requests for helpover the past year - nearly 900 calls a day.

While the vast majority of enquiries are genuine requests for help or advice, a handful are more unusual. Some examples include:

* ABritish holidaymaker in Jordan asking if the Embassy knewwhere they could get blonde highlights. * Acallercontacting the Embassy in Paris asking how much duckpatetheycould bring into the UK. * Anindividual in France whoasked if the Embassy could help locate where they had parked their car near the Eiffel Tower. * A Brit in Georgia calling the FCDO to ask if their two pets could begranted British citizenship to guarantee diplomaticprotection. * A holidaymaker asking the Embassy inEgyptto do something about the temperature of the showers at their hotel. * An individual planning to visit the UK asking their local embassy for assistance in trying to book tickets for Royal Ascot. * Aholidaymaker in Nigeria asking the Embassyfor helpseeking a refund for an unsatisfactory mealtheyhad just eaten at a restaurant in Abuja. * ABrit asking the FCDO consular service how to get in touch withtheirpostmanwhile away.

As excitement builds ahead of the World Cup quarter finals,itis also no surprise that some recent enquiries havebeen football-related - including one caller in Italy asking where they could watch the Scotland v Haiti group game in Milan.

While the FCDOcannot advise on hairdressing options or resolve restaurant complaints, consular staff doprovide vital support totens of thousands of British people abroad every year.

As part of this support, the UK Government is remindingtravellers to take somesimple steps to stay safe abroad. This includeschecking the latest FCDO Travel Advice for their destination(s), signing up for email alerts, and ensuring they haveappropriate travelinsurance.

In the unlikely event something does go wrong, the UK Government can:

* Provideup-to-date Travel Advice on local laws, cultural differences, safety risks and how to contact local authorities. * Issue an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) if a passport is lost or stolen, helping people return home or continue their journey. We issued more than 29,500 ETDs in the last year, helping people get home, back to their families and lives. * Provide information and advice toBritish nationals who are victims of crime or require medicalassistance. Last year, 8,573 people contacted usbecause theywerereceivingmedicalcare abroad. * Offer advice and support to those arrested abroad, includingstaying in touch with people who have beendetained,providing lists of English-speaking lawyers and translators, and-where consent is given-keeping family informed. * Raise concerns about treatment or conditions in detention with local authorities, while respecting that the FCDO cannot interfere in another country's judicial process.

Sarah Taylor, Director for Consular and Crisis, said:

Whether it is helping to replace a lost passport or supporting people in crisis the FCDO has expert consular staff available 24/7, 365 days a year to help.

Toensureyou enjoy your timeand stay safeabroad,remembertocheck our Travel Advice andmake sureyou haveappropriate insurancebefore you travel. If you encounter difficulties while overseas, you can contact the nearest British Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate.

Fraser McDougall, Head of the Consular Contact Centre, said: 

We are always happy to do what we can tohelp outBrits abroad where possible.

While wecan'thelp withretrieving lost carsorwhere to watch the football,we'reproud of the support we provide to over a quarter of a million Brits each year.

ENDS

Media enquiries

Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7008 3100

Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

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