William Hague has announced a six-point plan to strengthen help for Brits abroad.
The Foreign secretary has created various taskforces which can respond quickly to crises overseas and is improving technology so that Britons abroad can keep in touch via mobiles or online.
In a speech yesterday he said the Government has no plans to subcontract consular services, adding: "Consular services will always remain a national responsibility."
His improvements include:
- a new crisis centre starting this summer with 50% more staff and a new call handling centre to deal with multiple crises
- a new network of contact centres which people can call, to provide round the clock coverage
- a new Rapid Deployment team, on call 24 hours of the day, seven days a week, for crises in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.
- a new mobile registration system by the end of this year so British nationals caught up in a crisis can contact by text message
- moving more of the consular services online
- give more focus to vulnerable people or victims abroad with bodies like the Victim Support National Homicide Service
The Foreign Secretary said courage and judgement were both needed by consular officials to avoid over-reaction citing Egypt as an example of where Foreign Office advice was right.
He said: "During the Revolution in Egypt we were one of the few countries to judge accurately that the Red Sea resorts would remain safe for British travellers."
