HANSARDCommons19 Nov 20253 contributions

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

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Diplomatic Immunity: Alleged Serious and Significant Offences 2024

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
LabourBridgend
In 2024, seventeen serious and significant offences allegedly committed by people entitled to diplomatic or international organisation-related immunity in the United Kingdom were drawn to the attention of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office by the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection branch of the Metropolitan Police Service, or other law enforcement agencies.
We define serious offences as those which could, in certain circumstances, carry a penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment or more. Also included are other significant offences, such as driving without insurance and certain types of assault.
Around 26,500 people are entitled to diplomatic or international organisation-related immunity in the UK and the vast majority of diplomats and dependants abide by UK law. The number of alleged serious offences committed by members of the diplomatic community in the UK is proportionately low.
Under the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations 1961 and related legislation, we expect those entitled to immunity to obey the law. The FCDO does not tolerate foreign diplomats or their dependants breaking the law.
We take all allegations of illegal activity seriously. When the police or other law enforcement agencies bring instances of alleged criminal conduct to our attention, we ask the relevant foreign Government or international organisation to waive immunity, where appropriate, to facilitate further investigation. For the most serious offences, and when a relevant waiver has not been granted, we request the immediate withdrawal of the diplomat or dependant.
Listed below are alleged serious and significant offences reported to the FCDO by UK law enforcement agencies in 2024.
2024
Common Assault
Angola 1
Assault
Guinea 1
Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm
Cote d’Ivoire 1
Domestic Abuse
Pakistan 1
Domestic Violence
Saudi Arabia 1
Domestic Grievous Bodily Harm
Guinea 1
Child Abuse
USA 1
Distribution of Indecent Images of Children
Turkey 1
Modern Slavery
Equatorial Guinea 1
Uganda 2*
Oman 1*
Driving without Insurance
Saudi Arabia 1
Drunk in Charge of a Motor Vehicle
Brazil 1
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Saudi Arabia 1
Kenya 1
Uganda 1
*historic offence
Figures for previous years are available in the written statement to the House on 14 November 2024 (HCWS217), which can be found at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-09-14/hcws1028
[HCWS1075]

Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations: Debts 2024-25

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
LabourBridgend
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials have regular contact with diplomatic missions and international organisations in the UK about outstanding national non-domestic rates (NNDR) payments, outstanding parking fine debt and unpaid London congestion charge debt, to press for payment of outstanding debt and fines. Protocol directorate wrote in April 2025 to all diplomatic missions and international organisations about their obligations to pay the charges, fines and taxes for which they are liable, and has since written directly to those missions with outstanding debt to give them the opportunity to either pay outstanding debts, or to appeal against specific fines and charges that they consider incorrectly recorded.
National non-domestic rates:
The majority of diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom pay the national non-domestic rates (NNDR) due from them. Diplomatic missions and international organisations are obliged to pay only 6% of the total NNDR value of their offices. This represents payment for specific services received, such as street cleaning and street lighting.
As at 30 June 2025, the total amount owed to HMG for NNDR invoices issued up to 31 March 2025 is £4,458,866. Representation in 2024-25 by protocol directorate of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to diplomatic missions and international organisations has led to a reduction since April 2024 of over £1.2 million NNDR debt.
Diplomatic premises of the following countries and international organisations have balances owing in excess of £10,000 in respect of NNDR for invoices issued up to 31 March 2025:

Diplomatic Immunity: Alleged Serious and Significant Offences 2024

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)

LabourBridgend

In 2024, seventeen serious and significant offences allegedly committed by people entitled to diplomatic or international organisation-related immunity in the United Kingdom were drawn to the attention of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office by the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection branch of the Metropolitan Police Service, or other law enforcement agencies.

We define serious offences as those which could, in certain circumstances, carry a penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment or more. Also included are other significant offences, such as driving without insurance and certain types of assault.

Around 26,500 people are entitled to diplomatic or international organisation-related immunity in the UK and the vast majority of diplomats and dependants abide by UK law. The number of alleged serious offences committed by members of the diplomatic community in the UK is proportionately low.

Under the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations 1961 and related legislation, we expect those entitled to immunity to obey the law. The FCDO does not tolerate foreign diplomats or their dependants breaking the law.

We take all allegations of illegal activity seriously. When the police or other law enforcement agencies bring instances of alleged criminal conduct to our attention, we ask the relevant foreign Government or international organisation to waive immunity, where appropriate, to facilitate further investigation. For the most serious offences, and when a relevant waiver has not been granted, we request the immediate withdrawal of the diplomat or dependant.

Listed below are alleged serious and significant offences reported to the FCDO by UK law enforcement agencies in 2024.

2024

Common Assault

Angola 1

Assault

Guinea 1

Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm

Cote d’Ivoire 1

Domestic Abuse

Pakistan 1

Domestic Violence

Saudi Arabia 1

Domestic Grievous Bodily Harm

Guinea 1

Child Abuse

USA 1

Distribution of Indecent Images of Children

Turkey 1

Modern Slavery

Equatorial Guinea 1

Uganda 2*

Oman 1*

Driving without Insurance

Saudi Arabia 1

Drunk in Charge of a Motor Vehicle

Brazil 1

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Saudi Arabia 1

Kenya 1

Uganda 1

*historic offence

Figures for previous years are available in the written statement to the House on 14 November 2024 (HCWS217), which can be found at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-09-14/hcws1028

[HCWS1075]

Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations: Debts 2024-25

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)

LabourBridgend

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials have regular contact with diplomatic missions and international organisations in the UK about outstanding national non-domestic rates (NNDR) payments, outstanding parking fine debt and unpaid London congestion charge debt, to press for payment of outstanding debt and fines. Protocol directorate wrote in April 2025 to all diplomatic missions and international organisations about their obligations to pay the charges, fines and taxes for which they are liable, and has since written directly to those missions with outstanding debt to give them the opportunity to either pay outstanding debts, or to appeal against specific fines and charges that they consider incorrectly recorded.

National non-domestic rates:

The majority of diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom pay the national non-domestic rates (NNDR) due from them. Diplomatic missions and international organisations are obliged to pay only 6% of the total NNDR value of their offices. This represents payment for specific services received, such as street cleaning and street lighting.

As at 30 June 2025, the total amount owed to HMG for NNDR invoices issued up to 31 March 2025 is £4,458,866. Representation in 2024-25 by protocol directorate of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to diplomatic missions and international organisations has led to a reduction since April 2024 of over £1.2 million NNDR debt.

Diplomatic premises of the following countries and international organisations have balances owing in excess of £10,000 in respect of NNDR for invoices issued up to 31 March 2025: