Get involved Campaigns Country of the Month We highlight how breaking often lesser-known laws around the world can get you into trouble abroad. We focus on a country each month. Don't get caught out - be Travel Aware. December '18 - Thailand Travel Advice Check the local laws and customs prior to travelling to Thailand to make sure you stay safe. November '18 - Poland Travel Advice Updates and information about the things you should be wary of before heading to Poland. Offences, punishments and conditions The drink driving limit is lower than it is in the UK, at 20 milligrams of alcohol to 100 millilitres of blood. You can be imprisoned for up to two years for this offence in Poland. Being drunk in public as well as jaywalking are also offences and these carry a fine. Prison conditions in Poland can vary, there have been reports of brutality used in prisons, with guards using excessive force when dealing with prisoners. Article Thinking about A Winter Break in Warsaw? Megan Hart has some tips October '18 - Portugal Travel Advice Taking an Autumn break? Last summer sun? Portugal might be the place for you, but make sure you check out the Foreign Office website for travel advice before you go! Blog Read Lily Ross' blog about what to watch out for in Portugal. Lisbon is slowly becoming one of the most popular European cities for tourists, and there is no mystery as to why. Gaby Heaton outlines the little-known laws there so you don't get caught out! September '18 - Sri Lanka Travel Advice Read the travel advice on the Foreign Office website before travelling to Sri Lanka. August '18 - Denmark Travel Advice Denmark's local laws and customs section. Blog Read what Imogen Hill has to say about Denmark's cultural quirks and obscure laws. July '18 - Russia A popular country to visit this month due to the World Cup 2018. Travel Advice Russia travel advice. Article An article explaining that thousands of prisoners in Russia are to expect an early release under a new law that would count time spent awaiting trial towards a jail sentence. June '18 - France France is currently one of the most popular destinations for British travellers, with around 17 million Brits visiting the country each year. Travel Advice Local laws and customs in France. Blog France: five of the country's laws. Stories Kenisha tells us how one bad decision changed her life. May '18 - Egypt Travel Advice Read up on the local laws and customs before taking a trip. Blog Look after yourself in Egypt by Emily Abbott April '18 - India Travel Advice Find out what you should look out for before heading off to India. Blog Five important laws and customs to know if visiting India as a woman - read the blog by one of our student ambassadors. Testimony 'I try to be the rainbow in someone else's cloud...as many people have been the rainbow smiling on my cloudy days' Jane writes from India. Stats We are currently supporting 18 people in India. Conditions in Indian prisons are often poor, which means there is a greater need for our survival grants which allow people to buy fresh food and clean water - essentials to stay alive and well. Have a look back at our month focusing on prisoners for our 40th anniversary, which outlines the grants we offer to British people detained in developing countries. March '18 - USA Blog US: The Complex and Varying Marijuana Laws in the United States - by Michaela Hernychova Statistics We are supporting 243 people in USA at the moment, this is 24.3% of our client group. Testimonials Desmond's story: he was deported from America in 2016, having been out of the country for three decades. Travel Advice USA foreign travel advice - read before you travel February '18 - Austria Blog Five tips from an Austrian - written by Zahra Rahman Visiting Austria - here's a head's up from Laura Williamson Travel Advice from the foreign office January '18 - New Zealand Blog By Emma Watkins on How to Travel in New Zealand, whilst staying #travelaware! December '17 - Germany Article in relation to Germany An ever-increasing challenge of communicating with loved ones. Blog Five ways to act like a native in Germany by Rosie Wright Statistics - people we are supporting in Germany We currently have 32 British prisoners that we are supporting in Germany (making it 7th in terms of client numbers) In most countries, prisoners with drug offences are typically the largest group. In Germany, however, 38% of current prisoners are detained on fraud-related offences (half of these being detained for tax-related fraud). The longest sentence length of the people we are currently supporting is 15 years. The average sentence length for current British prisoners in Germany is 9 years This year, 9 detainees in Germany have received language learning materials to help them communicate in prison. Provision for healthcare for prisoners in Germany is generally good – although people who have no form of insurance are asked to cover part of the cost. Prisoners Abroad has only made one Medical Fund payment to a prisoner in Germany in the past 4 years. Link to the foreign office website Local laws and customs information November '17 - Australia Article on laws in the country An Aussie's guide to the Ashes - read Beth's blog about travel to Australia this year Mark's story 'the beautiful present' Prisoner pack and link to the Foreign office advice Read the travel advice for Australia - updates on legality of e-cigarettes and updates on local laws and customs October '17 - United Arab Emirates Article on laws in the country #makememoriesnotmistakes - read one of our student ambassadors blogs about Dubai travel Prisoner pack and link to the FCO - foreign office advice This month UAE is the focus - read their travel advice Case studies / Quotes A quote from David Haigh, who we supported when he was imprisoned in the UAE. “Without Prisoners Abroad I wouldn’t be here. They have saved my life. Prisoners Abroad was there for me when no-one else was.” Read more about David's story here. September '17 - Turkey Article on laws in the country In conjunction with World Tourism Day read our article about Turkey. Prisoner pack and link to FCO - foreign office advice. This month we're looking at Turkey - download the prisoner pack. Case studies / Quotes "The fact of knowing that there are people out there who have never met me but still care; people who do not sit in judgement or castigate; people who remind one that there is goodness in the world." MV - Turkey August '17 - Spain Article on laws in the country Spain! Read about the laws and what to watch out for when travelling there. Prisoner pack and link to FCO – foreign office advice Our Travel Aware country of the month is Spain! Download the Foreign Office prisoner pack. July '17 - Greece Article on laws in the country July's country of the month is Greece - read about the things you may not have known about in relation to being travel aware! Prisoner pack and link to FCO – foreign office advice Check out FCO travel - travel advice from the Foreign Office. You can download the Foreign Office's prisoner pack for our Travel Aware country. Case studies /Quotes “I would like to give appreciation for all your support … and especially for helping my family to visit. It was amazing to see them even if only for 20 minutes. In that time we could discuss your support and how it helped us to understand what we will be going through after my release. We believe that we couldn’t make it without your help and support. Thank you.” –A prisoner in Greece June '17 - Croatia Article on laws in country Our Travel Aware country of the month is Croatia! Read our article about what to look out for if you're out there. Should you be arrested in Croatia, you can learn more about which steps to take next here. For more travel tips and advice, discover other countries in Prisoners Abroad’s Travel Aware campaign. Prisoner pack and link to FCO – foreign office advice Our Travel Aware country of the month is Croatia! Going to a festival out there? Read FCO travel - travel advice from the Foreign Office before you do. Or check out student ambassador Olivia's blog about drugs at festivals. Prisoner Pack - The Foreign Office has published updated guidance for British prisoners in our Travel Aware country of the month Croatia. May '17 - Morocco Morocco Needs More Prisons to Accommodate Soaring Number of Inmates, Official Says. During an intervention at the Justice, Legislation and Human Rights Commission in the House of Councilors, Morocco’s upper house of the Parliament, Mohamed Saleh Tamek, the Delegate General of the Penitentiary and Reintegration Administration, revealed that the number of inmates in the country has exceeded 80,000 prisoners.Find out more: http://ow.ly/huWR30cjHq0 Article on laws in the country Be #TravelAware: Morocco – Diverse Natural Beauty, Cultural Attractions, and Unique Laws. Visit our website to find out what to look out for in Morocco. Travel Aware Travelling to Morocco can be an incredibly diverse and rewarding experience – although care should be taken to #TravelAware. To find out more about safe travel, have a look at Prisoners Abroad’s Travel Aware campaign. Prisoner pack and link to FCO – foreign office advice Morocco foreign travel advice Morocco prisoner pack Case Studies/Quotes In the words of a family member of a man detained in Morocco: ‘He left when his son was 3 months old, now his son has met him and is able to identify him as his dad… Our daughter is very close with her dad; this keeps me going knowing that once a year she will be able to see her father’. To read the story of Ray Cole, a Briton imprisoned in Morocco for homosexuality, click here.