Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many individuals were subject to adverse recommendations by the Home Office due to suspicions that they were involved in or associated with war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide in each year from 2010 to 2018; and of those, how many have been (1) prosecuted in the UK, and (2) extradited to other countries as a result of such crimes.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Metropolitan Police is responsible for the investigation of all allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and torture. The Counter Terrorism Division (CTD) of the Crown Prosecution Service, Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, has responsibility for prosecuting any such crimes and as a consequence would be the relevant authority for such decisions and data regarding the number of individuals in the UK prosecuted for these offences.
The Home Office is the competent authority for extraditions from England and Wales to countries outside the EU. Between 2010 and 2018, no individuals were extradited from England and Wales to countries outside the EU for war crimes offences. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own central authorities to deal with extradition requests. Extradition requests to and from the EU are made under the European Arrest Warrant and are dealt with by the National Crime Agency.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many requests for beneficial ownership information have been made by UK law enforcement to each British Overseas Territory and Crown Dependency under the Exchange of Notes agreement to date, by month
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
This information is not routinely collected. When the government reviewed the Exchange of Notes arrangements earlier this year after six months of operation it had been used to request information from the Crown Dependencies and relevant Overseas Territories more than 70 times.
This is described in a Written Ministerial Statement of 1st May 2018 (HLWS641). These arrangements represent an important capability to UK law enforcement and have enhanced operational activity. The government will conduct a statutory review of these arrangements by summer 2019, at which point details on the number of requests will be provided.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government by what criteria they assess an individual to have taken a direct role in hostilities in Iraq and Syria.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
UK individuals suspected of taking part in the conflict in Syria or Iraq will be investigated to determine if they have taken part in terrorist related activity. This assessment is an operational matter, determined on a case by case basis by police. Where there is evidence that crimes have been committed, those responsible should expect to be prosecuted under the full range of existing counter terrorism legislation.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to combine the Serious Fraud Office with any other law enforcement agencies.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government is committed to strengthening the UK's response to bribery, corruption, money laundering, fraud and other forms of economic crime. The Government is continuing to review options to improve the effectiveness of the UK's response to economic crime, and any measures resulting from this work will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the findings of their internal economic crime review will be made public; and if so, when.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government is committed to strengthening the UK's response to bribery, corruption, money laundering, fraud and other forms of economic crime. The Government is continuing to review options to improve the effectiveness of the UK's response to economic crime, and any measures resulting from this work will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect section 1 of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 to come into force.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Subject to Parliamentary time being available, we are aiming to fully commence the provisions relating to unexplained wealth orders by the end of this financial year.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
Her Majesty's Government when the use of waist restraint belts was prohibited for pregnant women; and why.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Published Home Office policy on use of force on pregnant women states that it may, if necessary be used only for the prevention of harm either to the pregnant woman or to other persons. It must not be used for reasons of non-compliance by the woman in question. Any action taken must be justified, appropriate and proportionate. Following the introduction of the bespoke Home Office Manual for Escorting Safely (HOMES) restraint system from June 2014 for escort detainee custody officers, operational guidance was implemented in August 2014. The latest guidance is at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-of-restraints-for-escorted-moves.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of the US about Eugene Gourevitch, regarding his co-operation with the US Department of Justice's Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative to track down stolen Kyrgyz assets.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The UK is willing and committed to helping international partners and will consider any request on a case by case basis. However as a matter of longstanding policy and practice the Home Office can neither confirm nor deny the existence, content or status of any individual request.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to investigate whether any Kyrgyz assets connected with the Bakiyev family have been invested in the UK; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Money laundering investigations are conducted by law enforcement agencies with access to the powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act, such as the National Crime Agency, the Serious Fraud Office, and the police. All of these law enforcement agencies are operationally independent of the Government.
Asked by: Baroness Stern (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the Independent Monitoring Board's Annual Report 2013, they have initiated changes at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre to ensure that detainees claiming to be under 18 are assessed by social services in the community rather than in the centre.
Answered by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for Harmondsworth published its 2013 report on 30 June. An action plan to address the recommendations in the report will be agreed by 11 August. Plans to make changes to the configuration of the healthcare unit to address the provision of appropriate accommodation for those with mental health or behavioural problems are under discussion with the new healthcare provider at Harmondsworth. This is in advance of the transfer of healthcare commissioning to NHS England on 1 September. Individuals who claim to be under the age of 18 following their detention are managed in accordance with Detention Services Order 14/2012 for the care and management of age dispute cases. This sets out the policy and procedures to follow in individual cases where there is a lack of physical or definitive documentary evidence to prove the person is under the age of 18. This also details the circumstances in which release by case owners is appropriate.