As a matter of point the UK is no longer classed as rabies free but rabies controlled. Looked it up on the DEFRA site.....
Has anyone told the Health Protection Agency,
This does not alter the status of the UK as rabies-free
link
or
Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said:
“Rabies is a very serious human disease and the rabies-free status of the UK must be protected.
which is on the er DEFRA website
here
And indeed DEFRA's guide to disease
The United Kingdom has been rabies free since the disease was eradicated in 1922 but rabies is still present in many other countries across the world.
Rabies (classical) « Animal Diseases
That said Lyssavirus is in the UK's bats and if bitten you could develop rabies. Which would be somewhat vexing.