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.

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.