Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the capacity of the War Crimes Unit and the Home Office to (a) receive and (b) act on complaints from members of the public on alleged war crimes.

The investigation and prosecution of individuals suspected of war crimes is an operational matter for the police. Any decision to investigate or prosecute is the responsibility of the police in consultation with Crown Prosecution Service.

In particular, the War Crimes Team of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) has national responsibility for the investigation of such offences, including genocide, crimes against humanity and torture; it is their responsibility, accordingly, to determine the recourses necessary to carry out this function.