For many years now, we have supported the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in promoting their ongoing campaign to encourage people to be Travel Aware. Their current summer campaign highlights the risks of drug smuggling, particularly via or originating from Thailand. We talked about this trend back in May and have seen the number of new overseas arrests continue to increase since then, so we are particularly pleased to support these messages.

Chief Executive Christopher Stacey shares his thoughts.

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If you follow Prisoners Abroad on any of our social media channels, you may have seen us share the FCDO’s Travel Aware graphics before; they are always bold and bright, designed to catch your attention. They encourage Brits to check travel advice and entry requirements for their destination, to make sure they have the correct travel insurance, and to sign up for email alerts so they can stay up to date with safety and security messages throughout their trip. Often, they are directed toward younger travellers - particularly in the summer months - with slogans such as ‘stick with your mates’, ‘stay in touch’ and
‘keep an eye on your drinks’. 

These are important messages for travellers and aim to keep the number of British people in prison abroad - and therefore those needing our support, as well as that of the FCDO - as low as possible. They can, however, sometimes feel a step removed from our reactive frontline work responding to the immediate needs of people post-arrest. But the summer 2025 campaign really strikes a chord and
highlights an issue directly affecting the work of Prisoners Abroad, so the team and I were thrilled to see it in a recent monthly all-staff meeting. Its messages are clear:

• Do not carry anything through customs for someone else.

• Do not carry cannabis through customs for someone else. 

• Do not carry cannabis out of Thailand.

• Do not carry drugs through customs for someone else.

Back in May, we published a statement on our website highlighting the increasing number of women and young people facing overseas prison sentences for smuggling drugs, in response to several high-profile arrests in the media. The team and I undertook a number of media appearances and interviews in the wake of these arrests, during which we were often asked if we could explain the root of this trend. While the why isn’t something Prisoners Abroad has historically commented on - or indeed held the data to explain, as our non-judgemental support is available to any British person, regardless of crime or reason - it has become clear that the number and frequency of recent arrests suggests that this is moving from a passing trend to a significant issue. As I write this, we currently have 52 recorded instances since 1 April
2025 where the arrest for drugs trafficking is in some way related to Thailand.

This has a direct impact on our work and the support we provide. The statistics from our initial statement mirror those you can find in our recently published 2024-25 Cheal report. If this continues, we will be on track to see the highest number of new cases ever in the coming year, which in turn has implications for the breadth and depth of assistance our frontline staff can provide in the time available and the costs of providing the much-needed practical support that we know people need.

Our support will always remain non-judgmental and we do not limit individual survival grant payments based on how many people need them - although we are forecasting a spend of £100,000 on survival grants this financial year, taking us over budget by £23,000, because of increased need.

The numbers therefore show us that the need for collaboration is greater than ever. The FCDO is already a key partner in delivering our overseas support; we work closely with embassies and consulates around the world to deliver our grants and rely on them for in-person visits. The direct messaging of their current Travel Aware campaign shows that they also see the impact of this trend and the need for raised awareness and partnership.

And you can help us too. If you are able to make a donation to our current appeal, you will be helping us safeguard our lifesaving work for the coming year. If you follow us on social media, you can share our Travel Aware posts whenever you see them to help us spread the message as far and wide as possible.

You can find information on our appeal, as well as the Travel Aware website, below. Links to our social media channels can be found at the top of this page.

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