Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask His Majesty's Government what policy they have about the investigation and prosecution of British citizens returning to the UK after having (1) lawfully volunteered or for, or enlisted in, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, or (2) undertaken humanitarian, medical, rescue or other volunteer work in Ukraine.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Cluny - Advocate General for Scotland
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice to Ukraine states: 'If you travel to Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the war, your activities may amount to offences under UK legislation. You could be prosecuted on your return to the UK'. Their full advice is available here: Ukraine travel advice.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which acts independently of police and government, will consider any information that is referred by the police and any decision to prosecute will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
To date, the CPS has not prosecuted any British citizens for actions carried out whilst volunteering to serve in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance has been issued to police, prosecutors and border authorities about British citizens returning to the UK after having (1) lawfully volunteered or for, or enlisted in, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, or (2) undertaken humanitarian, medical, rescue or other volunteer work in Ukraine.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Cluny - Advocate General for Scotland
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice to Ukraine states: 'If you travel to Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the war, your activities may amount to offences under UK legislation. You could be prosecuted on your return to the UK'. Their full advice is available here: Ukraine travel advice.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which acts independently of police and government, will consider any information that is referred by the police and any decision to prosecute will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
To date, the CPS has not prosecuted any British citizens for actions carried out whilst volunteering to serve in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their policy on the potential prosecution of British citizens returning to the UK after volunteering or enlisting in the armed forces of Ukraine.
Answered by Lord Hermer
Travel advice for Ukraine, issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, makes clear that if a British national travels to Ukraine to fight, or to assist others engaged in the war, their activities may amount to offences under UK legislation.
Anyone, regardless of their citizenship, who travels from the UK to take part in conflicts overseas may be investigated by the police on return to determine if they have committed criminal offences, and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to our national security.
The Crown Prosecution Service will consider any information that is referred by the police and any decision to prosecute will be considered on a case-by case basis and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.