Straw scales down travel warnings
The Foreign Secretary has announced a new system for warning UK citizens about the risks of travelling abroad.
There has been some concerns within the travel industry that the blanket warnings given by the Foreign Office were not reflective of the situation on the ground, and that some people were choosing to ignore warnings.
The Foreign Secretary said that under the new system: “I have therefore decided that in future, in the case of intelligence-based terrorist threats, we shall advise against travel only in situations of extreme and imminent danger – if the terrorist threat is sufficiently specific, large-scale or endemic to affect British nationals severely.”
“The factors which we shall consider in reaching this judgement will include the specificity and credibility of the intelligence information, the recent history of terrorist incidents in the area, the likelihood that the threat could affect British nationals, and the level of protection from the threat available to British nationals.
“One reason for making this change of emphasis is to maintain the credibility of our advice. I am concerned that many people continue to travel despite our warnings against all but essential travel. The public will be better served if such warnings are used more sparingly. I should add that we shall continue to prescribe against travel in cases of non-terrorist threats [coups, civil unrest, natural disasters] on the same basis as before.”
Jack Straw said that the new system was designed to ensure that a balance is struck between protecting UK citizens and making sure that the terrorists’ work is not done for them by creating disruption.
In addition, Mr Straw announced that he will be creating a Standing Advisory Council of Travel Advice comprising of representatives of NGOs, the travel and insurance industry to advice on travel advice and its implications.
However, this group will have no input on specific travel warnings.
The Foreign Office is currently advising against all travel to Somalia, the Ivory Coast and Burundi. There are 30 other countries where UK citizens are advised against all travel to specific regions.
