6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

To avoid disappointment and the daft comments above, you should understand that the primary role of overseas missions is not to provide direct support for British citizens but to advance and secure trade and diplomatic interests for the UK.

 

This has historically been the case for every nation’s foreign missions. However, it is a common misconception that these missions exist primarily to serve as a safety net for their citizens abroad, which is most certainly not the case, but often the basis of such comments as your above, Bob.

But this is stuff for the diplomats. Consular staff deals with citizens problems.

OK so why doesn't the UK tell their citizens that if you show up in Bangkok airport with some Cocain in your passports that your <deleted>, d as the last couple months 2 idiots from the UK did just that,,, nope not brain surgeons these two,,,I hope they spend the next ten years banged up. 

As for the British Embassy the people that work their should be arrested for being the most useless aholes on the planet. 

8 hours ago, ryandb said:

I contacted once during the early covid lockdown days and asked as I had tenants in the UK house, if I follow their advice to return home, how exactly do I find somewhere to live with the restrictions.... they said just return home and you'll get help no specifics provided was hardly reassuring so I just stayed here

Well they are here for issues arising in Thailand. You can't expect them to do your due diligence for uk based issues.

5 hours ago, Andrew65 said:

We have to pay a lot of tax for the health service in the UK.

When I worked in Oz a condition of my work visa was that my employer had to show that they had health insurance for me, that doesn't happen in the UK.

I never said you didn't have to pay for it, but it's invisible, giving the illusion of 'free' and thats what deludes folks when they travel overseas.

 

A lot of us in some way shape or form write a check, or have  some debit to our account every month just for health insurance

 

I think that's the bit a lot of, especially young Brits in Thailand fail to recognize.

 

This stuff ain't free

2 hours ago, Ironmike said:

OK so why doesn't the UK tell their citizens that if you show up in Bangkok airport with some Cocain in your passports that your <deleted>, d as the last couple months 2 idiots from the UK did just that,,, nope not brain surgeons these two,,,I hope they spend the next ten years banged up. 

As for the British Embassy the people that work their should be arrested for being the most useless aholes on the planet. 

its hardly the job of the consulate to explain the obvious to idiots but i do agree the staff are useless

So the number of Brits increases and they are somewhat surprised that their workload has increased proportionally ....amazing 

    They could always consider upping their resources, there's a novel idea, and they could hire a few diversity consultants just to be safe 

7 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

The best way to reduce the workload is to just discourage those from the UK visiting Thailand.

I suggest the same for Americans and Canadians, as well.

Aussies are OK, though, for me.

The population of Australia is very low.

Therefore, not, really a problem.

 

And don't forget the chinese, Their consulate must be busy

7 hours ago, sandyf said:

How long ago?

I got caught up in the passport fiasco in 2014 and had to turn to the embassy for help. They responded promptly and saved the day, but that was before the Consular Section was reduced in size.

Which passport fiasco was that in 2014 ?

5 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

The embassy isn't there to bribe your way out of whatever crime you've committed

Well that would depend on who one was.

15 hours ago, happyinthailand said:

What I would dearly like to know is that, with the increase in workload, The British Embassy has now adopted the full 5 day week rather than the 4.5 days adopted during the days of Empire.  

With a spot of tiffin on Wednesday afternoons.

16 hours ago, Dogbarker said:

Went along to Bangkok the other day  and used my old satnav locator.. strange findings . It took me to Paul's Patisserie .
 

Good you keep up with the news !

12 hours ago, quake said:

 

Think it's this guy.

What your reckon. same same but different.

 

The one on the left is more useful?

One million visitors versus 2,007 consular cases? 

How many diplomats are assigned to providing such consular services? 

17 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Not quite - thats just 'part of the responsibilities' of an Embassy: like others, you seem to be under common misconception that these missions exist primarily to serve as a safety net for their citizens abroad....

You are wrong.

Consular services was the first role of the UK embassy, trade and diplomacy came later.

The fact that the government has reduced the significance of consular services does not take away the importance of the role and people like you only contribute towards the demise.

10 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Which passport fiasco was that in 2014 ?

When overseas passports were transferred from the FCO to the Passport Office with the function being sub contracted to VFS.

4 hours ago, sandyf said:

You are wrong.

Consular services was the first role of the UK embassy, trade and diplomacy came later.

The fact that the government has reduced the significance of consular services does not take away the importance of the role and people like you only contribute towards the demise.

 

Sure about that ???...   

 

The first British Embassy in Constantinople (Istanbul) was set up in 1583 for several key reasons, primarily focused on trade, diplomacy, and strategic alliances - shortly afterwards the

Embassy gradually transitioned from a purely diplomatic mission to one that provided assistance to British nationals closely tied to the activities of the Levant Company and growing English trade in the Ottoman Empire.

 

Although consular services remain essential, they do not shape Britain’s  influence, which is why they are not considered as important as embassy services.

 

 

Exactly, how does having an understanding of this, and how do 'People like me' contribute towards the demise of the consular services ?...    

 

 

 

 

On 3/15/2025 at 6:04 AM, Jim Blue said:

Good you keep up with the news !

No it is more than I have a bad memory and an old sat nav ... Paul's was a big improvement over the service I got at the British Embassy before!

On 3/14/2025 at 3:01 AM, Andrew65 said:

I used to do exactly the same, I only carried cash when I went out, unless going to the bank. Why carry things with you that you don't need to, that will be a big hassle if they go missing? In 20 years I was never asked for ID on the street there either.

In all the times I have been to Thailand, I was only asked for my passport one time. 

 

I was on a bus from Mukdahan to Udon Thani.   At the bottom of a hill was a police roadblock.   Police boarded the bus and asked everyone for their ID. They asked everyone several questions before giving their ID's back.   

 

Police officer got to me, asked for my passport, opened it up to the picture page I guess, looked at it, looked at me, then gave my passport back.   Didn't ask or say anything other than, "Passport".    I was the only white face on the bus.  

 

The police took several people into custody before letting the bus go on.   

 

I remember it being a long ride to Udon Thani.  There was no air service at the time. 

On 3/14/2025 at 7:08 PM, hotchilli said:

The one on the left is more useful?

But not as much fun as having a real potato to stick those plastic parts into.   Which what I remember Mr Potato head  thing was when I was 5 years old. 

On 3/14/2025 at 6:16 AM, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

To avoid disappointment and the daft comments above, you should understand that the primary role of overseas missions is not to provide direct support for British citizens but to advance and secure trade and diplomatic interests for the UK.

 

This has historically been the case for every nation’s foreign missions. However, it is a common misconception that these missions exist primarily to serve as a safety net for their citizens abroad, which is most certainly not the case, but often the basis of such comments as your above, Bob.

Don't know where you heard that.
This is their mission statement lifted from their website;
aiming to promote and protect UK interests, values, and citizens abroad, while also working to make the UK more secure and prosperous. 

49 minutes ago, Alidiver said:

Don't know where you heard that.
This is their mission statement lifted from their website;
aiming to promote and protect UK interests, values, and citizens abroad, while also working to make the UK more secure and prosperous. 

 

Yet this very article (thread) regards the demands of consular services because the consular section(s) are under serviced..   Why is that ? - because Embassies do not exist primarily to serve as a safety net for their citizens abroad - they have 'other' priorities (listed).

On 3/14/2025 at 7:35 AM, bkk6060 said:

Wow, more then 200 arrests? Crazy, what's going in with these people?

There are certain types of Brits that are a "Little Slow" on the "Learning Curve".

Every Brit I have met anywhere in the world for my entire life HATES the the local British Embassy. Why LOL

On 3/15/2025 at 1:17 PM, richard_smith237 said:

Exactly, how does having an understanding of this, and how do 'People like me' contribute towards the demise of the consular services ?...    

One swallow does not a summer make.

Consular Services were the backbone of UK embassies but the UK government never made consular assistance a legal right, it is purely discretionary,  and is now using that to run down the services available.

By promoting the myth that the embassy was never there to help will deminish any incentive or campaign to to put that right.

 

Introducing a legal right to consular assistance would not only benefit British nationals who find themselves in dire circumstances while traveling abroad. It would benefit the British State by offering a structured approach for protection of its nationals, and would ensure that British values are respected, even beyond our borders. It would also represent a real opportunity for the UK to show leadership and reinforce its standing on the world stage, and would likely deliver economic benefits due to the increased sense of security that would encourage international travel and commerce.  

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://redress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Principles-for-a-Legal-Right-to-Consular-Assistance.pdf

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

One swallow does not a summer make.

Consular Services were the backbone of UK embassies but the UK government never made consular assistance a legal right, it is purely discretionary,  and is now using that to run down the services available.

By promoting the myth that the embassy was never there to help will deminish any incentive or campaign to to put that right.

 

This is where you've pulled the wool over your own eyes.

 

Consular services were never the back-bone of Embassy operations, they were 'part of Embassy operations' which have always prioritised Diplomatic Representation, Trade and Investment Promotion, Security and Defence Collaboration and Cultural and Educational Cooperation...

 

Consular Services for British Nationals, Visa and Immigration and Services were just a part of a whole, never a priority - as I've mentioned a number of times - there is a common misconception that Embassies / missions exist primarily to serve as a safety net for their citizens abroad, this is not the case.

 

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

Introducing a legal right to consular assistance would not only benefit British nationals who find themselves in dire circumstances while traveling abroad. It would benefit the British State by offering a structured approach for protection of its nationals, and would ensure that British values are respected, even beyond our borders. It would also represent a real opportunity for the UK to show leadership and reinforce its standing on the world stage, and would likely deliver economic benefits due to the increased sense of security that would encourage international travel and commerce.  

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://redress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Principles-for-a-Legal-Right-to-Consular-Assistance.pdf

 

I don't disagree - I really would like to see the British Government increase its levels of assistance for those who find themselves in difficulty while overseas - however, my point (in this thread) has always been, the British Government see their priorities elsewhere (as listed above).

 

Most laymen have no idea of Embassy operations, their only exposure is the consular section and this forms the opinion and common misconceptions - also a sense of 'expectation' we read in this thread.

20 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Consular services were never the back-bone of Embassy operations, they were 'part of Embassy operations' which have always prioritised Diplomatic Representation, Trade and Investment Promotion, Security and Defence Collaboration and Cultural and Educational Cooperation...

You have taken the statement out of context, the term embassy merely indicated representation. There are several countries with only one embassy but many consulates.

In some countries there is no embassy but have a consulate making consular services the only role from representation.

The very first British Consulate was in Bangkok, that also handled trade and diplomatic relations with Siam.

The embassy was huge and then they sold it for big money I still ask why and now look what we have a small type office.But they got alot of money for the embassy and  now a very much smaller space

They don't make British Ambassadors like Sir Anthony Rumbold any longer. The last part of his very insightful leaving letter in 1967. When he first came to Bangkok in 1955 he said it was all klongs and temples. He was wrong about the music of course.

 

https://secretsiam.news/p/gazelles-and-butterflies

 

I have very much enjoyed living for a while in Thailand. One would have to be very insensitive or puritanical to take the view that the Thais had nothing to offer. It is true that they have no literature, no painting and only a very odd kind of music, that their sculpture, their ceramics and their dancing are borrowed from others and that their architecture is monotonous and their interior decoration hideous. Nobody can deny that gambling and golf are the chief pleasures of the rich and that licentiousness is the main pleasure of them all. But it does a faded European good to spend some time among such a jolly, extrovert and anti- intellectual people. And if anybody wants to know what their culture consists of the answer is that it consists of themselves, their excellent manners, their fastidious habits, their graceful gestures and their elegant persons. If we are elephants and oxen they are gazelles and butterflies. On the other hand I am glad not to be staying here longer because I am certain that the deterioration in my mental processes is due not only to the onset of old age but more particularly to the enervating effects of the climate which no amount of exercise and airconditioning can nullify.

On 3/14/2025 at 7:06 PM, jesimps said:

Correct! Only mainstream officers can be expected to go above Grade 5. If I remember correctly, they enter as Grade 8 and are groomed in the diplomatic, economic and commercial jobs. I think the bottom grade for the dogsbodies is Grade 14, although I can't be certain. Consular departments are a very small part of an overseas mission, in most cases manned by a low grade UK Based officer and a couple of local staff. I should think that Bangkok would be run by a Grade 10 or thereabouts. High profile missions with high UK immigration applications, like Delhi and Islamabad, I think would be run by a Grade 7. If any high profile cases arise, then one of the senior dip grades would step in to deal with it. This would only happen in exceptional circumstances, the dips don't really like to dirty their hands with run of the mill stuff, but I'm sure no one's surprised to read that.  

 

You have better information than I do, but it confirms my belief that the high flyers have as little to do with DBS (distressed British subjects) as possible). Actually I have no beef with the Embassy consular staff in Bangkok who do an often thankless job as well as humanly possible.I see no evidence of laziness, lack of interest etc as some of the sillier posts on this thread suggest.

 

Having said that, Thailand has a large British expatriate population and a massive number of visiting Brits.It's important that leadership comes from the top, and that means the Ambassador.During the COVID crisis there was a clear failure in leadership on the part of the then ambassador - in clear contrast with the efforts of representatives of other countries.He went on to Hong Kong and got a CMG so his employers presumably thought well of him.The present (much more personable) ambassador picked up the pieces, and I think does pretty well.

 

Interesting to see in the recent obituary of Giles Paxman (brother of Jeremy) who was British Ambassador to Spain, that he took his duty to the millions of Brits in Spain extremely seriously and one of his major responsibilities.

On 3/17/2025 at 11:54 AM, richard_smith237 said:

Consular Services for British Nationals, Visa and Immigration and Services were just a part of a whole, never a priority - as I've mentioned a number of times - there is a common misconception that Embassies / missions exist primarily to serve as a safety net for their citizens abroad, this is not the case.

 

Depends on the country, and the number of British residents and visitors. Thailand has a large number of both.As I have just pointed out, the former Ambassador to Spain (a much more senior position that the Ambassador to Thailand) saw his responsibilities to British subjects as important as any other area.