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British Nationals Murdered Abroad Support for Families 2025-05-12
12 May 2025
Lead MP
Joshua Reynolds
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
Foreign Affairs
Other Contributors: 5
At a Glance
Joshua Reynolds raised concerns about british nationals murdered abroad support for families 2025-05-12 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
British citizens are killed in acts of violence abroad every year, plunging their families into grief and confusion as they navigate unfamiliar legal procedures without adequate support from the Government. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides a list of translators but offers no quality control or guidance on costs. Families face language barriers, distance to foreign trials, cultural differences, inconsistent consular services, and communication failures that leave them in the dark about crucial case developments. Consistent advice and clear communication are needed so families can navigate their way through justice.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Families should be informed of cases before news is released to the media.
Josh Newbury
Lab
Cannock Chase
Rob Spray's family faced similar challenges in Bulgaria and needed support from the British Government for closure.
North Norfolk
Families who challenge official narratives need extra support from the Foreign Office to fight for justice.
Tom Gordon
LD
Harrogate and Knaresborough
The MP supports the need for a statutory framework and suggests that the Foreign Office should also look retrospectively at historical cases to ensure justice.
Rhondda
I thank the hon. Member for that contribution, and I am so sorry to hear of his constituent’s experiences.
Government Response
Foreign Affairs
Government Response
We acknowledge the challenges faced by families of British nationals murdered abroad. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office offers support through consular services and a network of local lawyers to help navigate foreign legal systems. We understand the importance of clear communication and are working to improve transparency and consistency in our response. Funding for specific cases is provided on an individual basis to ensure that families receive appropriate assistance. We will continue to review our processes to better serve these families during their time of need. The Minister acknowledges the challenges faced by families of British citizens murdered abroad. She highlights that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides support including emotional support, updates on investigations/trials, and help finding local services. The minister pays tribute to Nathan Osman’s family who experienced significant communication issues with Spanish authorities. She also expresses willingness to meet constituents affected by similar cases, like Rob Spray's family, to better understand their needs and provide assistance. We have a memorandum of understanding in place on murder, manslaughter and infanticide abroad between the FCDO, UK policing and His Majesty’s coroner. This sets out clearly the support that is available when a British national is murdered overseas and the deceased has been repatriated to England or Wales. It clearly defines the roles of each signatory, setting out a shared commitment to working together in support of bereaved families.
However, as I have already outlined, we recognise that for many families in this difficult position, it is not always clear what support is available or how to access it. That is why, as we develop the new victims code provided for in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, we are considering what further information can be included to better signpost help for those affected by crimes overseas.
I commit to the hon. Member for Maidenhead and the House that, following the new code, my Department will work with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the FCDO, the Victims’ Commissioner and Murdered Abroad, taking into account the lived experience of others, to explore how we can make clearer what support exists for families affected by homicide abroad and what more we can do to support them.
We know how traumatic and isolating it can be to lose a loved one to violence in a foreign country. No family should face that kind of devastation alone, and our hearts go out to families who have gone, and are going, through it. When it does happen, those families deserve compassion, clarity and proper support. We are working to improve access to the help available and to ensure that those who need support know how to find it.
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Assessment & feedback
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