HANSARDCommons14 Sept 20233 contributions

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

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Alleged Serious and Significant Offences 2019 to 2022: Diplomatic Immunity

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (David Rutley)
Between 2019 and 2022, 15 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 parliamentary and diplomatic protection 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 driving under the influence and driving without insurance.
Around 25,500 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 dependants breaking the law.
We take all allegations of illegal activity seriously. When the police or other law enforcement agency bring instances of alleged criminal conduct to our attention, we ask the relevant foreign Government or international organisation to waive immunity where appropriate. 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 between 2019 and 2022.
2019
Domestic servitude/modern slavery^a
Saudi Arabia 1
Sexual Assault
Iraq 1
Fraud by abuse of position
Commonwealth Secretariat 1
Causing death by careless driving
USA 1
Driving under the influence of alcohol
Oman 1
Driving under the influence of alcohol
Kyrgyzstan 1
a) Historical allegations
2020
Common assault/cruelty to a child
Nigeria 1
Driving under the influence of alcohol
India 1
2021
Driving under the influence of alcohol
Saudi Arabia 2
Driving under the influence of alcohol
Ethiopia 1
2022
Driving without insurance
Myanmar 1
Common Assault/Threats to kill
Greece 1
Fraud by false representation/perverting the course of justice/money laundering Democratic Republic of the Congo 1
Sexual Assault
USA 1
Figures for 2018 are available in the then Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ written statement to the House on 25 February 2020 (HCWS119) which can be found at: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-02-25/debates/20022539000011/AllegedSeriousAndSignificantOffences(Diplomatic Immunity)2018
[HCWS1028]

British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (David Rutley)
Since the written ministerial statement made on 17 March, Official Report, 55WS, the UK and Mauritius held further constructive negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)/the Chagos archipelago on 2 to 3 June 2023 and 31 July to 1 August 2023. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) and Prime Minister Jugnauth met in the margins of the G20 summit on 9 September in New Delhi. The two Prime Ministers assessed the progress made in the negotiations since they spoke in February, and agreed to meet again soon. The next round of negotiations will take place later this month.
[HCWS1029]

Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations: Debts Owed in the United Kingdom 2022

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (David Rutley)
Coronavirus restrictions imposed in March 2020, even though since lifted, have affected the compilation of debt information for national non-domestic rates and parking fine debts by the responsible authorities. As a result this WMS includes details only of congestion charge debt owed by diplomatic missions and international organisations in the UK.
London Congestion Charge: The value of unpaid congestion charge debt incurred by diplomatic missions and international organisations in London since its introduction in February 2003 until 31 December 2022 as advised by Transport for London (TfL) was £145,411,143. TfL publishes details of diplomatic missions and international organisations with outstanding fines at https://content.tfl.gov.uk/cclez-online-factsheet-embassy-debt-dec22.pdf The table below shows those diplomatic missions and international organisations with outstanding fines of £100,000 or more.
We consider that there are no legal grounds to exempt diplomatic missions and international organisations from the London congestion charge, which is comparable to a parking fee or toll charge they are required to pay. Under the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations diplomats have an obligation to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state. The British Government therefore expect all diplomatic missions to respect UK laws and regulations, which includes payment of the congestion charge.
Country
Total outstanding
Embassy of the United States of America
£14,643,495
Embassy of Japan
£10,044,758
Office of the High Commissioner for India
£8,547,985
High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria
£8,383,735
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
£7,928,360
Embassy of the Russian Federation
£5,993,625
Embassy of the Republic of Poland
£5,266,160
Embassy of France
£4,835,820
Office of the High Commissioner for Ghana
£4,789,295
Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
£4,651,235
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
£4,629,330
The Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan
£3,516,070
High Commission for Kenya
£3,254,280
High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
£3,116,830
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
£2,625,880
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba
£2,465,520
High Commission for the United Republic of Tanzania
£2,285,390
Embassy of Spain
£2,178,120
Embassy of Algeria
£2,160,130
High Commission for the Republic of South Africa
£1,975,200
High Commission for Sierra Leone
£1,914,495
Embassy of Romania
£1,865,560
Embassy of Ukraine
£1,670,950
Embassy of Greece
£1,660,690
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
£1,575,760
High Commission for the Republic of Cyprus
£1,415,430
Embassy of Hungary
£1,373,880
High Commission for the Republic of Zambia
£1,146,050
Embassy of the Republic of Yemen
£1,055,100
High Commission for Botswana
£954,120
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria
£919,910
High Commission of the Republic of Mozambique
£861,760
High Commission for the Republic of Malawi
£836,225
Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
£822,550
Uganda High Commission
£811,100
High Commission for the Republic of Zimbabwe
£795,385
Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
£784,560
High Commission for the Republic of Cameroon
£759,660
Embassy of the Republic of Belarus
£733,285
High Commission for the Republic of Namibia
£726,550
High Commission for Malta
£712,335
Embassy of the Slovak Republic
£691,720
High Commission for Mauritius
£669,735
Embassy of Belgium
£666,420
High Commission for the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
£652,120
Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco
£651,790
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania
£650,505
Embassy of the Republic of Liberia
£627,150
Embassy of Austria
£626,020
Kingdom of Eswatini High Commission
£620,540
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
£605,040
Embassy of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea
£557,690
High Commission for the Kingdom of Lesotho
£530,360
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
£518,280
Embassy of the Republic of Guinea
£501,170
Embassy of the Czech Republic
£480,190
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
£473,580
High Commission for Jamaica
£473,020
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
£427,680
Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan
£417,990
Royal Danish Embassy
£403,835
Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia
£384,290
Embassy of the Republic of Latvia
£346,190
High Commission for Antigua & Barbuda
£345,795
Embassy of Portugal
£325,240
Embassy of Luxembourg
£320,195
Embassy of Tunisia
£294,820
High Commission for Belize
£280,050
Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
£275,960
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
£243,820
Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
£243,590
Embassy of Estonia
£218,420
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
£211,290
High Commission of the Republic of Maldives
£201,250
High Commission for Guyana
£186,490
Embassy of the State of Eritrea
£185,350
High Commission of the Republic of Seychelles
£169,935
Embassy of the Dominican Republic
£164,650
Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines
£156,840
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
£140,930
Embassy of El Salvador
£129,805
High Commission for Saint Lucia
£127,460
Embassy of the Republic of Albania
£124,480
Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic
£120,680
Embassy of the Republic of Moldova
£114,310

Alleged Serious and Significant Offences 2019 to 2022: Diplomatic Immunity

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

Between 2019 and 2022, 15 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 parliamentary and diplomatic protection 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 driving under the influence and driving without insurance.

Around 25,500 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 dependants breaking the law.

We take all allegations of illegal activity seriously. When the police or other law enforcement agency bring instances of alleged criminal conduct to our attention, we ask the relevant foreign Government or international organisation to waive immunity where appropriate. 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 between 2019 and 2022.

2019

Domestic servitude/modern slavery^a

Saudi Arabia 1

Sexual Assault

Iraq 1

Fraud by abuse of position

Commonwealth Secretariat 1

Causing death by careless driving

USA 1