The FCO has published its annual British Behaviour Abroad Report 2013-2014.
It helped 17,517 British nationals in trouble overseas, and noted there had been a decrease in some serious types of consular case over the last year.
For Portugal in particular, the FCO said there are 33,298 residents with 2,111,000 visitors from the UK last year. There were, incidentally, nearly 12 million Brits visiting Spain while France hosted 17 million.
In Portugal a total of 297 cases received assistance from the consul in 2013-14, having fallen from 403 the year before.
Out of a total of 15 arrests, only 4 were drug related. This was down from 27 arrests of which 15 were related to drugs that took place the year before.
There were no rape cases reported this year or last, and three reports of sexual assault 2012-2013 but none last year.
In addition, the consul assisted with 131 deaths in Portugal and 85 hospitalisations, as well as 66 instances of “other” assistance.
Portugal appeared 15th on the list of countries with the greatest number of consular cases. Most demand came from Spain, followed by the US, Thailand, France and Greece.
Globally, the FCO reported that the number of hospital cases with which they dealt went down to its lowest level in five years.
Rape and sexual assault cases reported to consular staff dropped significantly, bringing the total number of rape cases (106) to its lowest level for a decade and reports of sexual assault (152) the lowest in four years. Large falls took place in Spain and Turkey.
While there was a slight decrease in the number of arrests, those which involved allegations of drugs increased by 6%. Nevertheless, the number remains low compared to recent years.
Most drug arrests were handled in Spain (173), a 68% increase over the year before. The second largest number took place in the US (102) which was a 29% decrease.
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Can we assume that really desperate Brits. in Portugal - their lives and hopes destroyed having taking advice at great expense from 'advisors' - lawyers, accountants, municipal officers, architects et al
In a maelstrom of despair at finally discovering something called Pink Map 1890 to explain it ... still find the strength to drag themselves across the border into Spain ?
Or will the Gibraltar Effect finish them off there too?
Consuls tell us more !