US Diplomat: Removal

Baroness Brinton Excerpts

Wednesday 16th September 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Brinton]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that US officials removed a US diplomat who was accused of possessing indecent images of children from UK soil in August without informing UK authorities.

[The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Hanson of Flint) (Lab)]

The United States embassy has confirmed that it has recalled a member of staff to the United States due to an investigation in the United States. The Metropolitan Police was notified on 25 August and remains in contact with US law enforcement. It is inappropriate for me to comment further during a live investigation, but I expect all diplomats in the United Kingdom to respect our laws, and any breach is treated seriously.

[Baroness Brinton (LD)]

I am very grateful to the Minister for his last sentence. Unfortunately, it is exactly the same as the Government said in 2019 when Anne Sacoolas killed Harry Dunn in a road collision and the US authorities spirited her out of the country, saying that she had diplomatic immunity. Can the Minister explain what the Government are doing to ensure that the USA Government abide by the rules that the USA insists other countries have to follow when crimes are committed by foreign diplomats there? Have the US authorities agreed that the Met Police can now interview the suspect and investigate any other evidence of this crime?

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

With respect to the noble Baroness, I would not conflate the two cases; there are different issues at hand. As I have said, the United States has recalled the individual back to the United States, informed the Metropolitan Police, which is investigating and co-operating on whether there are issues that it needs to investigate and examine. There is a protocol between the United States and others. In relation to the Harry Dunn case, may I just say that that that was under the last Government? There was an investigation. There have been 12 recommendations made. We intend to accept all those recommendations. We are looking as to how we can update the family of Harry Dunn, which we will do by the end of this year. I assure the noble Baroness that we take these matters seriously and the Metropolitan Police is examining and discussing with the embassy what the circumstances were.