DPP’s power to block war crimes arrests is in the public interest – The Guardian

“The director of public prosecutions has disclosed how he proposes to use unique new powers enabling him to block the arrest of visiting foreigners accused of war crimes abroad.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th January 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Amnesty International say police bill will let war criminals go free – The Guardian

“Britain was accused by Amnesty International of handing a ‘free ticket’ to suspected war criminals after the government published parliamentary legislation designed to make it more difficult to arrest Israeli officials and ministers on British soil.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Senior British officers could face war crimes trial over alleged Iraqi abuse – The Guardian

“Head of military prosecutions warns of charges if there is evidence officers encouraged interrogators to abuse detainees.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

War crimes charges against military interrogators would put MoD on trial – The Guardian

“The revelation that a number of members of a secretive British military intelligence unit could face war crimes charges threatens to put the Ministry of Defence’s entire interrogation regime on trial.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

British military interrogators may be charged as war criminals – The Guardian

“The Ministry of Defence is at the centre of a new crisis over the abuse of prisoners after it was disclosed yesterday that a number of British military interrogators may be charged as war criminals.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Servicemen at ‘UK’s Abu Ghraib’ may be guilty of war crimes, court hears – The Guardian

“British servicemen who filmed hundreds of interrogation sessions at a secret prison near Basra which has been described as ‘the UK’s Abu Ghraib’ may be guilty of war crimes, the high court heard today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judge’s veiled criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza causes a legal dilemma – The Guardian

“As the legal establishment gears up for the new legal term starting at the end of next week, two of its leading figures must decide whether to do anything about a case that caused widespread concern during the summer.”

Full story

The Guardian, 23rd September 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Courtenay Griffiths: Defending Charles Taylor

“Our system of justice cannot operate unless there is a semblance of equality between prosecution and defence. Otherwise it becomes an inquisition and that would soon lose the confidence of the public.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th August 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Will Charles Taylor end up in a British jail? – BBC News

“The war crimes trial of the former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, has hit the headlines in the UK after the dramatic evidence of supermodel Naomi Campbell and her former agent, Carole White. If convicted, Mr Taylor will serve his sentence in a British jail. Why is this and where might he be housed?”

Full story

BBC News, 12th August 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Campaigners try to force MoD to court over Afghan killings – The Guardian

“The prospect of a judicial review into previously covered-up civilian shootings in Afghanistan has opened up after human rights campaigners launched an attempt to take the Ministry of Defence to court.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New rules on universal jurisdiction – Ministry of Justice

“The Government is proposing new rules about how courts in England and Wales deal with people accused of serious human rights violations.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 22nd July 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Jury clears activists who broke into Brighton arms factory – The Guardian

“Five activists who caused £180,000 damage to an arms factory were acquitted after they argued they were seeking to prevent Israeli war crimes.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ministers move to change universal jurisdiction law – The Guardian

“The government is moving swiftly to change the law on universal jurisdiction to abolish the ability to bring private prosecutions for international crimes in the UK.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th May 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Army to be sued for war crimes over its role in Fallujah attacks – The Independent

“Allegations that Britain was complicit in the use of chemical weapons linked to an upsurge in child deformity cases in Iraq, are being investigated by the Ministry of Defence.”

Full story

The Independent, 4th May 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Police ‘lack resources’ to pursue war criminals – The Guardian

“New laws to crack down on suspected war criminals living in the UK will have little effect, campaigners warn, because police lack the resources to investigate. Referrals from the UK Border Agency suggest that as many as 50 suspected war criminals are living freely in Britain, but the fact that there have so far been no arrests or prosecutions has prompted claims that there is continuing impunity.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Exclusive: Britain: A ‘safe haven’ for war criminals – The Independent

“Record numbers of alleged mass murderers and torturers have found safe haven in the UK, making this country one of the war criminal capitals of the world, it is claimed today.”

Full story

The Independent, 6th April 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

R (JS (Sri Lanka)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – WLR Daily

R (JS (Sri Lanka)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2010] UKSC 15; [2010] WLR (D) 79

“An asylum seeker was excluded from protection under the Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951) (Cmd 9171), pursuant to art 1F(a), if there were serious reasons for considering him voluntarily to have contributed in a significant way to an organisation’s ability to pursue the purpose of committing war crimes or crimes against humanity, whilst being aware that his assistance would in fact further that purpose.”

WLR Daily, 19th March 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Plan to change war crimes law delayed by general election – The Guardian

“Changes in the law to remove the threat of foreign politicians becoming victims of ‘politically motivated’ war crime arrests every time they visit Britain have been postponed until after the general election. The justice secretary, Jack Straw, said the decision to delay immediate legislation had been taken because the government recognised it was a controversial issue that involved the long-standing right of private prosecution.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

British government will fight legal attempts to indict Israeli leaders in UK – The Guardian

“Baroness Scotland announces plans to alter laws after attempts to obtain warrants against Israeli generals for war crimes.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Outcry over plan to give attorney general veto on war crimes warrants – The Guardian

“The attorney general will be asked to approve warrants before suspected war criminals can be arrested in future under a plan being negotiated by the Foreign Office in response to the row over attempts to arrest Israel’s former foreign minister.”

Full story

The Guardian, 16th December 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Straw: UK will not be a safe haven to those who commit genocide – Ministry of Justice

“The UK will not be a safe haven to those accused of heinous crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said today as he announced changes to strengthen the law.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 26th October 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

‘UK is safe haven for war criminals’ – The Independent

“Britain has become a ‘safe haven’ for war criminals because the Government has failed to close loopholes that grant them protection under the law, an influential committee of MPs and peers warns today.”

Full story

The Independent, 11th August 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Genocide – Jack Straw to strengthen law – Ministry of Justice

“New plans to strengthen the law on genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity were announced by Justice Secretary Jack Straw today.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 7th July 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Law targets war crime suspects living in UK – The Guardian

“War crime suspects who have fled to Britain after being involved in genocide or crimes against humanity dating back to 1991 will face prosecution in UK courts under proposals announced by the justice secretary, Jack Straw yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

War crime suspects may see UK immunity loophole closed – The Observer

“There has been a huge increase in action against suspected war criminals by the UK authorities, the Guardian has learned, as anti-genocide campaigners await an announcement on Tuesday on whether the government will act to end immunity for genocide suspects.”

Full story

The Observer, 5th July 2009

Source: www.http://observer.guardian.co.uk/

Call to close genocide loophole – BBC News

“Legal loopholes which allow foreign war criminals to escape prosecution in the UK should be closed, a report says.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (JS) (Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – Times Law Reports

Regina (JS) (Sri Lanka) v Secretary of State for the Home Department

Court of Appeal

“In order to establish that an asylum seeker was liable for a joint criminal enterprise such as to exclude him from the protection of the Geneva Convention as complicit in war crimes or crimes against humanity, there had to have been a common design which amounted to or involved the commission of a crime provided for by statute.”

The Times, 11th May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Foreign Office accused of hindering human rights lawyers in Gaza Strip – The Guardian

“British lawyers attempting to build a war crimes case against Israel have been blocked from entering the Gaza Strip because the Foreign Office has refused to support their work, the Guardian has learned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st April 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK ‘home to 200 rights abusers’ – BBC News

“More than 200 people responsible for war crimes and other human rights abuses overseas could be living in Britain, the BBC has learned.”

Full story 

BBC News, 24th March 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Iraqis accused of killing soldiers at risk of torture, court told – The Guardian

“Two Iraqis accused of killing British soldiers risk being tortured and executed, in violation of their human rights, if they are tried in Iraq for war crimes, the high court was told yesterday.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th November 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

War crimes charges dropped against five Guantánamo detainees – The Guardian

“The US government today dropped war-crimes charges against British resident Binyam Mohamed, who has accused the American military of torture, and four other detainees being held at Guantánamo Bay.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st October 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

UK Guantanamo man in legal battle – BBC News

“A British resident held in Guantanamo Bay is to launch a court battle to make the UK government release evidence for his defence.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th July 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Legal Opinion: Britain must obey the rule of law over Iraqis detained without trial – The Independent

“Two Iraqis have been held without trial by the British Army for five years. Why is this any different from Guantanamo Bay?, asks Phil Shiner, of Public Interest Lawyers.”

Full story

The Independent, 25th June 2008

Source: www.indpendent.co.uk

Papers reveal how alleged war criminal escaped UK arrest – The Guardian

“Scotland Yard allowed a suspected war criminal to escape from Britain partly because they feared an attempt to stop him would lead to a gun battle at Heathrow airport, police documents seen by the Guardian reveal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

War crimes inquiry into Tamil rebel living in UK – The Times

“A Sri Lankan guerrilla leader living in London is being investigated for possible war crimes charges, The Times has learnt.”

Full story

The Times, 21st December 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

UK joins call to repatriate Guantanamo youngest – The Times

“British lawyers have joined the call on the Canadian Government to intervene over Omar Khadr, the youngest detainee at Guantanamo Bay who has now spent a quarter of his life in captivity there.”

Full story

The Times, 19th November 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Pair guilty over break-in at base – BBC News

“Two peace activists who broke into RAF Fairford and attacked US military vehicles have been found guilty of conspiracy to commit criminal damage.”

 Full story

BBC News, 6th July 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Peace pair ‘stopping war crime’ – BBC News

Two anti-war campaigners who broke into an RAF base in Gloucestershire said they were acting to stop a war crime. ”

Full story

BBC News, 2nd July 2007 

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

First British soldier to be convicted of a war crime is jailed for ill-treatment of Iraqi civilians – The Guardian

“The first British soldier ever to be convicted of a war crime was yesterday jailed for a year and dismissed from the army.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st May 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk