917 UK holidaymakers arrested in Spain and 150 held in Greece

Thousands of UK holidaymakers have been arrested and detained in countries including Spain, Greece, Cyprus, the USA, the UAE, France and Germany. Holidaymakers have been warned to be aware of local laws, especially recent changes, after a 10 per cent surge in the number of UK tourists held abroad. Greece has recently introduced a ban on sunbeds, umbrellas and speakers and imposed event-related restrictions across 251 beaches ahead of the summer season. The ban, which has rolled out to more beaches after being introduced in 2024, comes as research from MoneySuperMarket found that overseas arrests remain consistently high. The travel insurance experts are urging tourists to be vigilant and ensure they understand local rules before travelling this summer. Analysis by MoneySuperMarket found Greece saw 886 arrests between 2016–2024 and ranked in 6th place for the most arrests in 2024 - with 150. At the same time Spain has seen 8,998 UK tourists arrested over the eight years and 917 in 2024. That was followed by USA (5,775 and 704), the UAE (2,236 and 262), Thailand (1,659 and 245), France (1,392 and 141) then Australia (1,344 and 95). Other countries with high numbers of UK tourists being arrested include Germany, Turkey, Cyprus, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Japan, China and Poland. In total, 4,643 Brits were detained overseas in 2024 Based on eight years of FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) data, analysis by MoneySuperMarket found that 37,680 British nationals were arrested overseas between 2016 and 2024. The 4,643 Brits arrested abroad in 2024 was the highest annual total since before the pandemic and a 10% increase from 2023. The research found that just over 5% of offences involved drugs, and 3% related to sexual offences. The remaining 92% were classified as general or unknown, prompting MoneySuperMarket’s experts to share their guidance. “While most travellers understand the basics of staying safe abroad, local laws and customs can differ significantly from the UK,” says Kara Gammell, Travel Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket . “Travel insurance is vital for protecting you if things go wrong on holiday, whether it’s covering medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage or flight disruptions. What it won’t cover, however, is arrests or legal trouble abroad. That’s why it’s so important to research local laws and customs before you travel. Being prepared is the best way to stay safe.”