Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the resources of the (a) Metropolitan Police and (b) CPS to (i) investigate and (ii) prosecute people residing in the UK who are suspected of committing international crimes; and if he will ensure that the investigation and prosecution of such individuals is prioritised.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Government is committed to upholding international law and holding those who commit the most serious crimes accountable for their actions and is clear that the UK should not provide a safe haven for war criminals or those who commit other serious violations of international law. The Government encourages action to be taken to bring such individuals to justice wherever possible. In doing so, the Government has published guidance file:///C:/Users/panayih1/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/1D3NBYIH/universal-jurisdiction-note-web.pdf to clarify the role of prosecutors and the police on the investigation and prosecution of crimes of universal jurisdiction.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) War Crimes Unit is a dedicated specialist unit which investigates and prosecutes people living in the UK suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in line with universal jurisdiction. The MPS continuously reviews operational need and allocates additional resource to the unit in line with demand.
The CPS Counter Terrorism Division has the responsibility for prosecuting such crimes and the division has doubled in size in recent years. The CPS is facing an increase in sensitive and complex cases and this drives the need for specialist staff. The CPS has a budget to enable its resourcing; the Attorney General and the Solicitor General will continue to work with them and HMT to ensure that this is the case and that their needs are reflected in any future Spending Review.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the High Court decision not to extradite to Rwanda persons suspected of involvement in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis, what steps the (a) Metropolitan Police and (b) CPS have taken to comply with the Government's obligations under national and international law to investigate and prosecute acts of genocide.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is responsible for the investigation of all allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and torture. The MPS War Crimes Unit is a dedicated specialist unit which investigates and prosecutes people living in the UK suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in line with universal jurisdiction.
The Counter Terrorism Division (CTD) of the Crown Prosecution Service, Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, has responsibility for prosecuting any such crimes.
Specialist Prosecutors from the Counter Terrorism Division of the CPS bring their expertise to cases of this nature; they work closely with the police throughout any investigation and prosecution of such crimes, including providing early investigative advice.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) War Crimes Unit received a referral from Rwandan authorities in January 2018 relating to five individuals in the UK and allegations of genocide offences in Rwanda dating from around 1994. Documentation relevant to this was assessed by the War Crimes Unit and officers also deployed to Rwanda as part of initial work to scope the allegations. As a result, the MPS have subsequently commenced an investigation, initially this will involve a review of all the documentation transferred from Rwanda. It is understood that the MPS’ enquiries are ongoing.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Summary Report for the Commission on Gangs and Violence: Uniting to Improve Safety by Reverend Dr Carver Anderson, published in November 2017, what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations in that report.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands launched the Commission on Gangs and Violence to critically assess the rise in serious violence and gang-related activities in Birmingham and to offer solutions to tackle the issue. The PCC is responsible for implementing the report’s recommendations.
On 9 April 2018, the Government published a new Serious Violence Strategy to take action to address serious violence and in particular the recent increases in knife crime, gun crime and homicide. The strategy outlines our response under four key themes: tackling county lines and misuse of drugs; early intervention and prevention; supporting communities and local partnerships; and an effective law enforcement and criminal justice response. The response is based on evidence about the trends and drivers of serious violence and analysis of what works in terms of interventions.
Our approach is not solely focused on law enforcement, very important as that is, but depends also on partnerships across a number of sectors such as education, health, social services, housing, youth services, victim services and others. In particular, the strategy stresses the importance of early intervention to tackle the root causes of serious violence and provide young people with the skills and resilience to lead productive lives free from violence.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 21 December 2017 to Question 116509, what the cost of unlawful detention claims paid by the Home Office was in (a) 2011, (b) 2012, (c) 2013, (d) 2014, (e) 2015 and (f) 2016.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
For FY 2011/12, the Home Office does not hold the information in the format requested. Our ledger will not allow us to provide this level of detail for that Financial Year
The cost of unlawful detention claims for FYs 2012/13 onwards are included in the table below:
Unlawful Detention Claims Paid
Year | £m |
2016/17 | 3.3 |
2015/16 | 4.1 |
2014/15 | 4.0 |
2013/14 | 4.8 |
2012/13 | 5.0 |
Figures for FYs 2013/14 to 2015/16 were provided under previous PQ UIN 47658.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2017 to Question 116507, what the cost to the public purse was of running Brook House Immigration Removal Centre in the financial year 2016-17.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
This information is commercially sensitive and release could prejudice the Home Office’s interests.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2017 to Question 116507, what the average annual cost of detaining an individual in immigration detention is.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The average cost can be found at the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-enforcement-data-november-2017
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to answer Question 116509, tabled on 29 November 2017.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Question UIN 116509 was answered on 21st December 2017.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost of unlawful detention claims paid by the Home Office has been in the last 12 months.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
We do not release in-year data ahead of the publication of our annual report and accounts until after the figures have been finalised, audited by the National Audit Office, and laid before Parliament.
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of people released from Immigration Removal Centres in the detention estate were released into the UK in the past 12 months.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Reasons for leaving detention by quarter may be found in table dt_06_q of the detention tables in the latest releases of ‘Immigration Statistics, July to September 2017’, available from the Home Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/662536/detention-jul-sep-2017-tables.ods
Asked by: Andrew Mitchell (Conservative - Sutton Coldfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average annual cost is of detaining a person in Brook House.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The information is commercially sensitive and release could prejudice HO interests.