United Kingdom Country Report

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) is an island nation located off the north-west coast of the European continent. It is a modern, developed country with a history of significant global influence and one of the largest economies in the world by GDP. The UK is made up of four constituent nations: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the latter three of which have their own devolved governments. It also maintains jurisdiction over a number of overseas territories around the world as a legacy of its formerly dominant maritime empire.

The UK can pose security challenges to domestic and foreign operators but for the most part remains a low-risk environment. Its exit from the European Union has created high levels of political and operational uncertainty while the UK renegotiates its future relationship with the bloc and other international partners. Terrorism dominates domestic security concerns, with Islamist militants and Irish dissident republicans continuing to issue threats. The main terrorist threat comes from small, self-directed groups and lone actors sympathizing with the Islamic State (IS) and other militant groups. Strict gun control laws in the UK mean that vehicles and knives, rather than firearms, will remain the most likely weapons used in any future terrorist incidents, although there remains a risk from improvised explosive device attacks.

A range of single-issue protest groups stage frequent demonstrations in major towns and cities but these only occasionally turn violent and generally remain very localized. Most criminal activity affecting travelers in urban areas is associated with petty theft such as pick-pocketing and bag-snatching. Most violent crime tends to be between rival gangs or drunken aggressors outside bars and nightclubs. Seasonal weather conditions can affect rail and air travel services and result in delays and cancelations.

Islamist militant groups and unaffiliated individuals continue to plan attacks which could cause mass fatalities or otherwise have a significant disruptive impact in the United Kingdom. However, most complex attack plots have been disrupted at a relatively early stage in recent years and terrorist incidents are more likely to take the form of knife and vehicular attacks. There is also a risk of retaliatory anti-Muslim attacks launched by far-right extremists. Dissident republicans in Northern Ireland continue to pose a terrorist threat, with small improvised explosive devices (IEDs) frequently being discovered in Belfast and Londonderry, although these rarely cause any significant casualties or damage.

The main threat to travelers in the UK comes from non-violent opportunistic crime, particularly pick-pocketing and bag-snatching in urban centers. Various political and socio-economic issues can be triggers for demonstrations which are held regularly in London and other major cities. The vast majority of protests are well policed and remain peaceful, although demonstrations can occasionally lead to localized travel disruption.

Air travel is safe and in compliance with international safety standards.

Road conditions are excellent in the UK.

Ferries are generally safe, reliable, and professionally operated.

Access to utilities is excellent and comparable to other developed countries in Western Europe.

The risk of cyber attacks and data breaches for companies in the UK is increasing.

The UK has a temperate climate, with the temperature varying with the four seasons. In general, there are warm summers and cool winters. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. Flooding can occur during periods of heavy rainfall and cause damage to property and disruption to travel. Air pollution occasionally spikes in London and other major cities but generally presents a negligible risk to travelers.

The standard of healthcare in the UK is high, although waiting times at public hospital accident and emergency departments can be long. People who live outside the European Economic Area, including former UK residents, should make sure they are covered by travel health insurance. Pharmacies are widely available and are generally well-stocked with prescription medicine and over-the-counter drugs. Water is safe to drink.

The UK is a unitary multi-party parliamentary constitutional monarchy. However, in recent years, the UK has introduced a gradual devolution of political power to its constituent entities, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

The Prime Minister is the head of government, while the monarch acts as a largely ceremonial head of state. The prime minister and ministers exercise executive power, while legislative power at the national level resides with the Parliament, which consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords; additionally, the Scottish Parliament, Senedd (the Welsh Parliament), the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the English combined authority system hold limited responsibilities for legislation at the level of the UK's subnational units. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Parliamentary elections take place at least once every five years.

Coalitions featuring a cross-section of political parties are not typically required to form the government. Government collapses occasionally occur. State institutions are competent and effective and provide reliable services across the country.