The membership of the BCA comprises of career diplomats and Honorary Consuls.

All posts are regulated by the Consular Act 1968 giving effect to Articles 58-68 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963 (the Convention). As noted earlier, full time career diplomats are also regulated by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961

Outside London nations within the British Commonwealth often appoint an Asst.High Commissioner to head their diplomatic representation.

Facilities, Privileges and Immunities relating to a consular post

Some of the more relevant day to day Articles from the Convention are given below:

Consular Officers have a right to visit a national of the ‘sending state’ (the overseas national) who is in prison, custody or detention, to converse and correspond with him and to arrange for his legal representation (Article 36 of the Vienna Convention). If the national so requests, the ‘receiving state’ (the UK), shall contact the Consul to inform him the national has been arrested, committed to prison or is in custody. The receiving state shall inform the national of his rights under Article 36.

 In addition to the above the receiving state shall:

•  accord full facilities for the performance of the functions of the Consular post (Article 28),
•  ensure freedom of movement and travel in its territory to all members of the Consular post (Article 34),
•  if information is available to the receiving state, they have a duty of telling Consuls of any deaths of nationals in their district (Article 37),
•  protect Consuls and Consular premises (Article 59 & 64),
•  treat Consular officers with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on their person,  freedom or dignity.
• Consular officers enjoy immunity for acts performed in the course of their official consular duties.

The Vienna Convention overrides UK legislation including section 35.1 of the Data Protection Act.