UK Nationals Urged to Register with "Locate"

Post by **hhfarang** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 9:01 am

Note the text in red as there was a discussion on this topic before...

"PHUKET CITY: British Ambassador to Thailand Quinton Quayle is encouraging all British subjects who live or travel to Phuket or other parts of Thailand to register their presence here using a new on-line service set up by the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The Click on this link! campaign encourages British Nationals to use LOCATE, an online system, to register their contact and next of kin details.
"Whether you are visiting Thailand on holiday, flying in for a business trip or simply reside in this beautiful land of smiles, the last thing you want is to be caught up in a situation in which your loved ones cannot locate your whereabouts," Ambassador Quayle said.

"I'd like to encourage British nationals in Thailand to register with LOCATE so that, if necessary, we will be able to contact your next of kin and locate you."
LOCATE allows the British Embassy in Bangkok to contact British nationals in an emergency.

Younger Brits with older, less-computer-savvy friends from the UK are encouraged to help them register.
Long term residents who have registered with the British Embassy before, but not using LOCATE, are encouraged to re-register using the new system. Data from the old database will not be automatically migrated.

Personal details entered onto LOCATE are password-protected and access to data will be for the crisis management purposes only and strictly in line with the UK Data Protection Act.
The UK is consistently the leading source of European arrivals to Thailand, with about 860,000 coming to the Kingdom in 2007, the last year for which figures are available on the Tourism Authority of Thailand website.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009/12/1"

Post by **hhfarang** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 9:06 am

Here's more info on how and where to register.

I suppose this could be used for good purposes as mentioned in the article, but I'm also guessing it could also be used to "locate" criminals or tax dodgers so there may be some of you who do not wish to register...

Post by **hhfarang** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 9:07 am

Sorry, forgot to put in the url.... (damned missing edit button!!!!)

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-liv ... fe/Locate/

Post by **lomuamart** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 9:09 am

I did so a number of years ago mainly because you have to to get a verification of income letter from them for visa extension purposes.

Post by **Nereus** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 9:26 am

Australia also has this facility, and has had so for several years. If you have nothing to hide, it is a good idea, especially in the case of natural disasters and such events.

Post by **Don East Stand** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:46 pm

Thanks for the heads up on this one. I knew I had registered previously, but thought I would have a look anyway.

My information was out of date, mainly because my son obtained a new telephone number, so all updated now

Mind you I'll not be happy if the tax man turns up

Thanks again

Post by **Korkenzieher** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:33 pm

Having posted on this topic elsewhere, I won't go on at any length, except to state that, while superficially a good idea (Tsunamis etc.), one is instinctively suspicious of initiatives like this emanating from the UK. While I have no reason to fear registering, I also really don't give a damn about reporting to the UK. I might as well better report to the German government, as I have more contact there, and in anycase my next of kin, such as they are, would find out pretty quickly.

Along with many on the other forum, I am suspicious of the motive - whether it is a job creation scheme for civil servants or fishing expedition for HMRC isn't really relevant.

Post by **Don East Stand** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:42 pm

Having successfully registered with the FCO I received one of their nice automated responses thanking me for registering and providing me with a link to check out travel advice for that country

Out of boredom, I guess, I clicked on their link and lo and behold, "ERROR PAGE NOT FOUND"

Maybe it's only me, but it kind of sums up quite a lot about the old country

Post by **PeteC** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:42 am

You're all not alone in this. I've had many dealings with the USA embassy over the past four years since my daughter was born, and they constantly push the registration point at each and every opportunity. The frequency and 'hard sell' of it is enough to put me off and to make me suspicious.

Then again, my address and contact details here are well recorded with the government already so there may be legitimacy in that they indeed ask for it for emergency reasons as they can't get the centralized agencies back in the USA to share their databases due to complexity or whatever reason.

I'm undecided on the whole issue. Pete

Post by **STEVE G** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:24 am

"Whether you are visiting Thailand on holiday, flying in for a business trip or simply reside in this beautiful land of smiles, the last thing you want is to be caught up in a situation in which your loved ones cannot locate your whereabouts,"

When I'm in Thailand my loved one seems to be able to find out where I am without bothering with any British Embassy registration.
They have their own intelligence network that can find me within seconds.[/url]

Post by **Nereus** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 9:19 am

STEVE G wrote:
"Whether you are visiting Thailand on holiday, flying in for a business trip or simply reside in this beautiful land of smiles, the last thing you want is to be caught up in a situation in which your loved ones cannot locate your whereabouts,"
When I'm in Thailand my loved one seems to be able to find out where I am without bothering with any British Embassy registration.
They have their own intelligence network that can find me within seconds.[/url]

Probably ask that green frog, Steve!

Post by **sandman67** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:37 am

I did it just to keep my mum from nagging me.....