Hague reveals undiplomatic crimes

Foreign diplomats who are protected from prosecution allegedly committed 17 drink driving and more serious offences last year including human trafficking, sexual assault and a threat to kill, Foreign Secretary William Hague has revealed in a series of written statements.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Jun 2010, 12:16 BST
Updated 29th Jun 2010, 12:16 BST

Diplomatic immunity was invoked for envoys from Saudi Arabia and Sierra Leone who were accused of human trafficking.

A Pakistani diplomat was alleged to have carried out a threat to kill.

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A Saudi Arabian envoy allegedly committed sexual assault, while a diplomat from Nigeria was linked to a case of actual bodily harm.

A diplomat from Gambia was accused of shop theft and one from Cameroon accused of neglecting a young person.

There were also nine instances of driving under the influence of alcohol, one of driving under the influence of alcohol and without insurance and one of driving without due care and attention.

Diplomatic missions also owe more than 36m in unpaid London congestion charge fines, 526,300 in parking and minor traffic violations, and more than 480,000 in unpaid rates.

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Mr Hague said "serious offences" were those that could carry prison sentences of a year or more, and that 25,000 people in the UK were entitled to diplomatic immunity.

Mr Hague said the total owed in congestion charge fines on January 29 had reached 36,057,690, with 57 diplomatic missions owing 100,000 or more.

Related topics:William HagueSaudi ArabiaLondon