VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHLO #1710/01 1781508
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261508Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9035
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0076
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0835
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 3716
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0844
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1048
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3234
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 2657
RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT 3374
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN 0105
RUEHMZ/AMCONSUL MUNICH 0141
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0627
UNCLAS LONDON 001710
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN AU FR GM IT JP KZ PK UK
SUBJECT: CODEL HASTINGS - JUNE 27 - JULY 8, 2008
REF: A. STATE 67273
B. STATE 67546
C. STATE 67606
1. Embassy London is pleased to grant country clearance to
CODEL Hastings to visit London June 27-28, 2008.
2. Visit Officer will be Jim Donegan who can be reached at
work 44-20-7894-0114, fax 44-20-7894-0117, home
44-20-7259-6066, mobile phone 44-7801-670-694. If calling
from within the UK replace 44 with 0. Email:
DoneganJE2@state.gov.
3. Confirmed reservations are held for CODEL Hastings at:
Hyatt Regency Churchill, located at 30 Portman Square, London
W1A 4ZX. The telephone number is (44)(0)20 7486-5800 and the
fax number is (44)(0)20 7486-1255. (Note: the zero in
parentheses (0) is required when dialing in the UK.)
4. Changes/Cancellation of Reservations:
Any changes to hotel reservations MUST be made 48 hours in
advance of arrival. Changes made after that time may incur a
night,s lodging charge. Please make all changes through
your Visit Officer and not direct with the hotel.
5. Accommodation Exchange:
Embassy will provide accommodation exchange on arrival and
departure. ATMs are widely available in London and accept
most major US ATM cards. ATM and credit card transactions
obtain the best available exchange rates. Please exercise
normal precautions (i.e. concealing PIN number) when using
ATMs. Exchange services are available from well-known firms
at the airports and train stations. In addition, the U.S.
Embassy cashier is prepared to exchange U.S. dollars for
Pounds Sterling (BPS) during their office hours for official
TDYers for limited amounts. U.S. citizen direct-hire TDYers
may cash personal checks; all others should bring cash or
traveler,s checks.
6. For up-to-date information regarding health concerns
visit the internet at http://www.who.int/country/gbr/en/
7. Security Clearance:
If confirmation of the level of traveler's security clearance
was not contained in the original country clearance request,
please send it via cable to facilitate unescorted access to
the Embassy as required by 12 FAM 443.3.
8. Security Information for the United Kingdom:
Our current threat assessment indicates there are no known
direct immediate security problems that would affect travel
to mainland UK. Travelers planning to stay longer than 30
days are required to schedule a security briefing with the
RSO. For additional threat assessment information regarding
the United Kingdom and/or Europe, you may contact DS/ITA in
the State Department at (202) 663-0787.
-- Aviation security: Travelers are advised to check with
transportation security authorities to obtain current
aviation security information.
-- Terrorism. The United Kingdom is stable and modern, but
shares with the rest of the world an increased threat of
terrorist incidents of international origin, as was shown
with the bombing attack in London July 7, 2005. Visitors are
reminded to remain vigilant with regard to their personal
security and to exercise caution at all times. The British
Home Secretary has urged its citizens to be alert and
vigilant by, for example, keeping an eye out for suspect
packages or people acting suspiciously at Underground and
railway stations and airports, and reporting anything
suspicious to the appropriate authorities by contacting the
free anti-terrorist telephone hotline on 0800-789-321.
Travelers should regularly monitor the Department,s internet
web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current
Worldwide Caution Public Announcement can be found. In
addition, if visitors notice any suspicious activity or have
any security concerns, the embassy Regional Security Officer
(RSO) should be notified as soon as possible.
From time to time during periods of heightened threat of
terrorism, the UK government deems it necessary to raise
levels of security activity. Heightened activity may include
the use of troops, who remain at all times under the control
of the police and are part of long-standing contingency
plans. Military personnel and equipment may be deployed at
airports and other transportation links, or other public
locations. For more information about UK safety initiatives,
consult the UK Civil Contingencies Secretariat website at
www.ukresilience.gov.uk.
Political demonstrations are well policed and, except at
times in Northern Ireland, generally orderly. Although the
political situation in Northern Ireland has dramatically
improved since the signing of the Good Friday Agreements in
1998, incidents of terrorist violence have, nevertheless,
occurred in the past few years. Within Northern Ireland,
flash-points for sectarian confrontations still exist, but
they are generally removed from areas where tourists
congregate. Sporadic incidents of street violence often
erupt during the summer marching season around the July 12
public holiday. As a result, American citizens traveling in
Northern Ireland have experienced delays and disruption.
-- Street Crime: London, like other urban centers, has a
certain amount of street crime. Although on the increase,
violent criminal confrontations and the use of firearms are
relatively rare in the UK. Burglars and pickpockets are very
active and visitors are encouraged to safeguard their
valuables and not carry large amounts of cash or unneeded
credit cards. Visitors should be particularly careful on
crowded streets, in entertainment areas, in department
stores, restaurants, or on crowded public transportation.
Travelers are specifically warned not to leave valuables in
hotel rooms, regardless of the stature of the hotel.
Recently there has been a measurable increase in street
crimes involving the theft of cell phones. Visitors should
avoid as much as possible using cell phones on the streets or
in other public places. The police and other emergency
services in the UK are excellent. The nationwide telephone
number to summon emergency assistance is 999.
9. Embassy London looks forward to your visit.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
TUTTLE