Urgent Brit holiday hotspot warning from Foreign Office after 50 sexual assaults reported
BRIT holidaymakers have been given an urgent warning from the Foreign Office after more than 50 sexual assaults were reported in one country.
Anyone jetting off to Turkey should remain vigilant after the cases were reported to the British consulate last year.
While the advice for travellers said that overall crime was low in the country, Brits should be aware when it came to street robbery, pick-pocketing and the sexual offences reported in 2022.
The Foreign Office said there had been 51 cases of sexual assault, including rape, reported to the consulate in Turkey in the previous year.
Turkey is increasingly seen as a popular holiday destination for Brits, with more than three million people visiting last year.
The majority of the reported sexual assault cases took place over the summer months, the Foreign Office said.
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These largely took place around coastal tourist and resort areas, it added.
It also warned that many of the sexual assaults were committed at night by someone the victim had interacted with during the day.
The Foreign Office statement said: “You should be extra vigilant in these situations.
“Never accept lifts from strangers. Find a registered yellow taxi and make a note of the registration number before getting in.
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“If you have any concerns, seek advice from your tour operator or the Turkish authorities.”
The Foreign Office also warned against robbery while in Turkey.
While is said that crime levels are low, street robbery and pick-pockets are common in the major tourist locations in Istanbul.
It said: “You should maintain at least the same level of personal security awareness as in the UK. Alcohol and drugs can make you less alert, less in control and less aware of your environment.”
It added that Brits should be aware of amount of alcohol they can drink and warned that alcohol served in overseas bars is often stronger than the UK.
The advice comes after the Foreign Office warned holidaymakers to be aware of their drinks being spiked.
"Buy your own drinks and keep sight of them at all times so they are not spiked.
"Be wary of strangers approaching you offering food and drink (which may be drugged), to change money or to take you to a restaurant or nightclub."
There is also a threat of passports being stolen from some holiday villas, so it is advised to keep them locked up.
They state: "Passports have been stolen from rented villas, even when they have been kept in the villa safe.
"This is a particular problem in Didim, Kas, Kalkan and the Fethiye/Hisaronu/Ovacik areas."
Last year, 3.3million Brits visited Turkey, according to the Foreign Office.
This was up from pre-pandemic's 2.9m in 2019 - although numbers are expected to increase again this year.
To visit Turkey, tourists need to have at least 150 days left on their passport from the date of arrival.
For example, if you were visiting Turkey on August 1, 2023, your passport would need to be valid until at least December 29, 2023.
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Brits need to have a full blank page for entry and exit stamps.
Even if your passport isn't full, you need to have an entire page without any other stamps or visas on it when you visit.
