Foreign Office advice gives more detail on terror threats

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated the way it describes terror threats on its travel advice pages.

The advice now includes the likelihood, predictability, frequency and context of attacks, as well as an assessment of local security services.

The changes, which came into effect two weeks ago, follow a consultation last year looking at whether changes should be made to provide a greater level of detail and better understanding of the level of threat travellers face.

A proposed fourth tier of advice was rejected after it was considered “confusing” by the industry, which feared it would impact consumers’ willingness to travel. However, more clarity and narrative explaining risks was called for.

The FCO states at the top of each destination page where changes have been made as a result of the update rather than because of new threat information.