Recurring concern

Inadequate travel safety warnings about destination-specific hazards and standards

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First reported 16 Dec 2016•Latest report 1 Nov 2023

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures in travel advice to identify, assess or communicate material destination-specific hazards, warnings or relevant differences in local health and safety standards before or during travel.

Not included

  • Excludes generic travel information or neutral descriptions of destinations that do not identify a safety deficiency.
  • Excludes safety failures in hotels, tour operators, transport providers or activity operators unless the asserted concern is specifically the failure of travel advice to warn travellers about that risk.
  • Excludes domestic or non-travel safety warnings without a material travel-advice context.
  • Excludes general public-health, product or clinical warnings that are not intended to inform travel decisions.
Reports
5

Distinct published reports

Individual concerns
5

A report can raise multiple concerns

Date range
2016–2023

First to latest report issue date

Stated actions
10

Described in published responses

Reports over time

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office5

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

  1. Inner North London

    AI-generated summary

    Musa Sidique Konteh · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Musa Sidique Konteh went missing after hiring a jet ski alone at a beach resort in Sierra Leone on 19 March 2023; his body was found in the water on 22 March 2023. Concerns included the reported lack of health and safety procedures for jet-ski users, including no emergency engine cut-off instructions, no guidance about submerged rocks, and no supplied lifejackets, as well as travel advice that did not warn that local health and safety standards might be lower than those experienced in the UK.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure of travel advice to warn travellers that local health and safety standards may be lower than in the UK

    Wider context from the report

    “(1) Little, if any, health and safety procedures were in place for those hiring jet skis. For example: no instructions on the use of the emergency engine cut-off were given; no instructions were given on any areas to avoid, in the context of an area with many submerged rocks; and no lifejackets were supplied to people hiring jet skis. (2) The relevant Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice, warns of strong currents and the absence of lifeguards on beaches; however, it does not advise travellers that health and safety standards may be lower than people may experience in UK. ”

    Source location

    Musa Sidique Konteh · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
  2. Manchester South

    AI-generated summary

    Kirsty Margaret McKie · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Kirsty Margaret McKie lived and worked in Bali and died in hospital on 24 July 2022 after unknowingly consuming methanol that had been sold as alcohol fit for human consumption. The report identifies concerns about low awareness of methanol poisoning risks among expatriates and tourists and limited UK Government publicity about those risks.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of UK Government publicity about methanol risks to UK nationals travelling abroad

    Wider context from the report

    “The Inquest heard evidence that there is a growing problem of methanol being passed off as alcohol for human consumption particularly in places such as Bali. Methanol is used rather than ethanol in spirits aimed at the Western market and sold even through apparently reputable suppliers. The evidence before the Inquest was that : 1. Knowledge of the problem amongst the expatriate/tourist community was very low despite the increase in the problem and the catastrophic consequences of methanol consumption; 2. There was little publicity by the UK Government of the risk in contrast to the approach taken by the Australian Government who had undertaken a campaign to increase awareness to protect their citizens travelling in areas of Asia such as Bali; 3. The UK Government publicising information about the risk of methanol being used in local spirits, steps that could be taken by UK nationals travelling to reduce the risk and warning signs of methanol toxicity would help to reduce the chance of others dying in the way in which Kirsty McKie died. ”

    Source location

    Kirsty Margaret McKie · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Update Indonesia travel advice to explain methanol risks, symptoms and steps to reduce exposure.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “We have considered how we might further strengthen this language and, in consultation with relevant UK health agencies, have updated travel advice to better illustrate the risk of methanol poisoning in Indonesia, the likely symptoms, and actions British nationals might take to try to avoid this happening.”

    Source location

    Response from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
    Page 2 · response
    Published 20 February 2023

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Consider reflecting methanol-poisoning risks in travel advice for other countries.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “We are also considering if there is a need to reflect the risks associated with methanol poisoning in any other country travel advice to help British nationals to make better-informed decisions when they travel. We will consider how to represent this alongside other risks to British nationals so that we set out all relevant risks proportionally.”

    Source location

    Response from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
    Page 2 · response
    Published 20 February 2023

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Place methanol-poisoning information banners at Bali international airport and disseminate them through social media channels.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “In response to the report, the British Consulate in Bali has reached agreement with the local airport authorities to place an information banner (hardcopy and digital on all airport TVs) about the risks of methanol poisoning in the international arrival area live from June to December this year. Permission to display the banner will be reviewed annually. The Consulate will also post the digital banner on their Facebook and Twitter pages, and will encourage people to re-post it to reach a wider audience. Once the banner design is ready, they will also share it with local social media groups.”

    Source location

    Response from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
    Page 2 · response
    Published 20 February 2023

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Engage UK travel-industry contacts to highlight methanol-poisoning messaging to customers.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “We will engage our contacts in the UK Travel Industry to make them aware of the risks of methanol poisoning and highlight our messaging in Travel Advice allowing travel firms to bring the issue to the attention of their customers.”

    Source location

    Response from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
    Page 2 · response
    Published 20 February 2023

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Ask Student Brand Ambassadors to promote methanol-poisoning warnings through social media and blogs.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “We will also ask our Student Brand Ambassadors, a network of young people made up from UK universities and Further Education colleges to warn people of the dangers of methanol poisoning, not limited to travel to Bali, and ask them to amplify our key messaging, via social media and blogs.”

    Source location

    Response from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
    Page 3 · response
    Published 20 February 2023

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Continue the established Travel Aware campaign directing travellers to current travel advice and email alerts.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “More broadly, the FCDO’s established Travel Aware campaign will continue to prompt British nationals who are planning to travel abroad to read the latest FCDO travel advice for their destination and to sign up for e-mail alerts.”

    Source location

    Response from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
    Page 3 · response
    Published 20 February 2023

    Open published response
  3. East London

    AI-generated summary

    Lee Bradley Brown · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Lee Bradley Brown was detained at Bur Dubai Police Station in Dubai after his arrest on 7 April 2011 and was found unresponsive in his solitary cell on 12 April 2011. The inquest identified concerns including beatings, inadequate food and water, unh abitable living conditions, lack of necessary medical care, and lack of access to consular services. It also heard concerns about emergency access protocols, travel advice about detention in Dubai, and procedures for providing consular access to detained British nationals experiencing a mental health crisis.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Insufficient FCDO travel advice on the possible circumstances and consequences of detention in Dubai

    Wider context from the report

    “2. The inquest heard concerns in relation to the current FCDO travel advice. There was considered to be insufficient information relating to the possible consequences of detention in Dubai (and the possible circumstances of such detention). The inquest heard that the number of new cases of British Nationals reporting allegations of torture or mistreatment in Dubai to the FCDO has risen from 3% of the global total in 2016 to 13% of the global total in 2020. ”

    Source location

    Lee Bradley Brown · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Consider how to reflect detention-related risks, including torture or mistreatment, in travel advice covering the UAE and other countries.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Our consular team responsible for foreign travel advice is considering how we could reflect the risks associated with detention across the globe – including the UAE – in a way that enables British nationals to make better-informed decisions when they travel. We will consider how to represent this alongside other risks to British nationals so that we set out all the relevant risks, including those of torture or mistreatment, proportionately. A broader internal review of FCDO Travel Advice is underway. We will ensure the findings of the report are included in that work. The review is expected to be completed in mid-2023.”

    Source location

    Response from Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
    Page 2 · response
    Published 21 November 2022

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Consider how detention-related risks should be represented proportionately alongside other travel risks.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Our consular team responsible for foreign travel advice is considering how we could reflect the risks associated with detention across the globe – including the UAE – in a way that enables British nationals to make better-informed decisions when they travel. We will consider how to represent this alongside other risks to British nationals so that we set out all the relevant risks, including those of torture or mistreatment, proportionately. A broader internal review of FCDO Travel Advice is underway. We will ensure the findings of the report are included in that work. The review is expected to be completed in mid-2023.”

    Source location

    Response from Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
    Page 2 · response
    Published 21 November 2022

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Complete the broader internal review of FCDO travel advice and include its findings in that work.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Our consular team responsible for foreign travel advice is considering how we could reflect the risks associated with detention across the globe – including the UAE – in a way that enables British nationals to make better-informed decisions when they travel. We will consider how to represent this alongside other risks to British nationals so that we set out all the relevant risks, including those of torture or mistreatment, proportionately. A broader internal review of FCDO Travel Advice is underway. We will ensure the findings of the report are included in that work. The review is expected to be completed in mid-2023.”

    Source location

    Response from Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
    Page 2 · response
    Published 21 November 2022

    Open published response
  4. Avon

    AI-generated summary

    Henry Jack MILLER · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Henry Miller died on 23 April 2014 in Colombia after consuming a psychoactive substance during a tribal ceremony and becoming intoxicated. The concern was whether travellers planning to participate in such ceremonies should receive warnings or advice before travelling and deciding whether participation was safe.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of well-informed travel guidance about participation in Yage-consuming tribal ceremonies

    Wider context from the report

    “Many travellers go to this area of Columbia and some will consider participating in a tribal ceremony when Yage will be consumed. Many will check with the FCO about any issues or warnings about their travel plans. I would therefore ask you to consider whether a warning or advice should be issued to such travellers exploring this area of Columbia so that they can receive well informed guidance before travelling and deciding whether it is safe to participate in such a ceremony. ”

    Source location

    Henry Jack MILLER · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Review and update travel advice for Colombia and Bolivia to warn about risks associated with spiritual cleansing ceremonies.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Colleagues at the British Embassy in Bogota have been following local developments in this case closely and we have been in contact with Mr Miller’s family. Following receipt of your report, our South America team finalised a review of our travel advice for Colombia and the wider region. We concluded that it was appropriate to include information on the risks of participating in spiritual cleansing ceremonies in our travel advice for Colombia and Bolivia. These updates were made on 31 August 2018. The extract from our travel advice for Colombia, found in the ‘Local laws and customs’ section, is as follows:”

    Source location

    2018-0260-Response-by-FCO
    Page 1 · response
    Published 26 September 2018

    Open published response
  5. Inner South London

    AI-generated summary

    Mr Edwin Richard Flett · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Mr Edwin Richard Flett drowned after entering the sea at Accra (Rockley) Beach, Barbados, on 21 March 2015; prompt CPR could not save him, and the autopsy found no medical reason for the drowning. The report raised concerns about the beach's history of drownings, currents and riptides, the absence of warning flags or signs, and general rather than beach-specific safety information for tourists.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Failure of holidaymaker safety advice to identify dangers at particular beaches

    Wider context from the report

    “3. The steps that the FCO has taken since this death is to produce general advice noting that warning flags and lifeguards may not be present on all beaches and that there may be unexpected currents. The advice about risks of swimming in general do not appear to draw the attention of holiday makers the risks acknowledged by the Barbados National Conservation Commission and evidenced by the family on this beach in particular. 4. The British tour operator now draws the attention of holiday makers to FCO advice and there is a general leaflet warning swimmers of dangers of swimming, precautions and of rip tides and listed lifeguard supervised beaches. But this advice remains general and does not inform holiday makers of dangers at particular beaches. ”

    Source location

    Mr Edwin Richard Flett · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report
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Data last updated 7 September 2026