What to do if you're mugged on holiday

Becoming a victim of crime - whether it's a mugging, an assault or worse - can be traumatic in your home country.

But, when you're on holiday abroad, the experience can be devastating.

One in four of us can expect to fall victim to some sort of crime when we're on holiday, according to the organisation Victim Support.

But the experience can be made even more traumatic when you don't know the language and don't understand the legal system, according to the group.

click here for the BBC's advice on how to avoid hoiday crime

It says many countries, including Britain, are failing to live up to new European rules on how to treat victims of crime abroad.

Victim support says Britain should do more

The authorities simply don't take time to find translators and explain the legal process to victims, who may have no idea what's going on around them.

In 2000, 43 British people were murdered abroad; 90 were the victims of rape and 237 were assaulted, according to official figures.

Breakfast spoke to Dame Helen Reeves of Victim Support, and Richard Life, from Manchester, who suffered a terrible attack while in Spain.

click here to see Breakfast's interview on holiday crime in full

Victim Support has warned that Britain has to do more to meet new European Union standards of assistance for victims of crime in the UK, whether they were British citizens or foreign visitors.

Richard Life suffered a horrific attack in Spain

The organisation was examining the changes which will be introduced by an EU policy signed in March which aims to standardise services across the 15 member states for the victims of crime.

Currently "the way in which victims are treated varies greatly from country to country", said the report

Victims can now expect the right to access to justice, receive compensation in criminal proceedings, and be given proper information by the authorities.

They would also be entitled to receive reasonable protection, if necessary, and be given information on the support available. Member states should also take steps to minimise communication and translation difficulties in court.

Victims should also be reimbursed for any expenses incurred when attending court proceedings, according to the EU Council Framework Decision on the Standing of Victims in Criminal Proceedings