A British government official said on Thursday ( Nov. 14 ) that people with diplomatic immunity in the UK allegedly committed crimes last year, including sexual assault, indecent exposure, and child cruelty.
In a written statement to congress, young foreign minister Catherine West claimed that the foreign ministry had recorded nine” serious and significant crimes” committed by suspects under political shelter in 2023.
A Syrian man is accused of sexual assault, an Iraqi man is accused of distributing or possessing child pornography, a Spanish man is accused of child pornography, and a Singaporean is accused of child cruelty or neglect.
” The vast majority of officials and dependants comply by UK law”, said West, referring to the 26, 500 people in Britain who have political or international organisation-related immunity from prosecution.
She said that when alleged unlawful conduct is brought to the agency’s interest” we ask the appropriate international government or foreign organisation to cancel immunity, where appropriate, to help further investigation”.
” For the most serious crimes, and when a related cancellation has not been granted, we request the quick departure of the minister or dependant”, West added.
CNA has contacted Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information.
West also revealed that diplomatic missions owe more than £152 million ( US$ 193 million ) in unpaid congestion charge fees in London, from its introduction in 2003 to last month.
The US embassy owes more than £15 million only. Because it believes that the £15 daily fee may be deducted from diplomatic missions, it refuses to provide central London.
Japan owes £10.4 million while China owes £9.3 million.
At the end of June, West also made it known that officials owed nearly £1.5 million in unpaid driving fines. Saudi Arabia owed the most at £196, 000, she said.