Suspected perpetrators of atrocities in countries such as Iran and Russia are freely coming to the UK to enrol their children in schools, shop at Harrods, and visit their luxury properties in Mayfair, all while UK law prevents their arrest or prosecution, the Government heard yesterday from members of the House of Lords.
A cross-party group of peers urged the UK Government to close long-standing gaps in the UK’s universal jurisdiction laws, warning that without reform, the UK will remain a safe haven for individuals credibly accused of the world’s gravest crimes, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The calls came during a House of Lords debate on proposed amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which seek to update the International Criminal Court Act 2001 (ICCA). At present, the ICCA prevents authorities from investigating or prosecuting core international crimes unless the suspect is a British national or resident, a restriction peers described as unjustifiable and out of step with international standards.
The amendments, supported by REDRESS, would allow UK courts to prosecute anyone present in the UK for these crimes, bringing domestic law into line with countries such as Germany, France, and Sweden.
Ahead of the debate, REDRESS provided detailed briefings to peers, setting out the case for reform.
Picture: UK government – House of Lords chamber, Palace of Westminster, London
