Security: Embassies

(asked on 29th March 2023) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of vandalism and disorder that took place outside the High Commission of India in London on 19 March; and what steps they are taking to ensure the safety and security of diplomatic missions.


Answered by
Lord Sharpe of Epsom Portrait
Lord Sharpe of Epsom
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
This question was answered on 13th April 2023

The Government takes the protective security of the Indian High Commission extremely seriously. The Government remains committed to protecting the security of missions throughout the UK, including preventing and rapidly and robustly responding to incidents such as this.

The criminal damage and assaults on staff from the India High Commission at the incident on the weekend of the 18th March was unacceptable. The police have powers to deal with such acts. However, the use of these powers is an operational matter for the police, and decisions on possible criminal proceedings will be made in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service.

It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on diplomatic security arrangements. To do so could compromise the integrity of those arrangements and affect the security of the individuals and locations concerned.

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