US Diplomat: Removal
Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Contributions
Question
Asked by
Baroness Brinton
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that US officials removed a US diplomat who was accused of possessing indecent images of children from UK soil in August without informing UK authorities.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Hanson of Flint) (Lab)
The United States embassy has confirmed that it has recalled a member of staff to the United States due to an investigation in the United States. The Metropolitan Police was notified on 25 August and remains in contact with US law enforcement. It is inappropriate for me to comment further during a live investigation, but I expect all diplomats in the United Kingdom to respect our laws, and any breach is treated seriously.
Baroness Brinton (LD)
I am very grateful to the Minister for his last sentence. Unfortunately, it is exactly the same as the Government said in 2019 when Anne Sacoolas killed Harry Dunn in a road collision and the US authorities spirited her out of the country, saying that she had diplomatic immunity. Can the Minister explain what the Government are doing to ensure that the USA Government abide by the rules that the USA insists other countries have to follow when crimes are committed by foreign diplomats there? Have the US authorities agreed that the Met Police can now interview the suspect and investigate any other evidence of this crime?
Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)
With respect to the noble Baroness, I would not conflate the two cases; there are different issues at hand. As I have said, the United States has recalled the individual back to the United States, informed the Metropolitan Police, which is investigating and co-operating on whether there are issues that it needs to investigate and examine. There is a protocol between the United States and others. In relation to the Harry Dunn case, may I just say that that that was under the last Government? There was an investigation. There have been 12 recommendations made. We intend to accept all those recommendations. We are looking as to how we can update the family of Harry Dunn, which we will do by the end of this year. I assure the noble Baroness that we take these matters seriously and the Metropolitan Police is examining and discussing with the embassy what the circumstances were.
Lord Bellingham (Con)
My Lords, further to what the Minister said about the review which was carried out by Dame Anne Owers, she concluded that the FCO missed multiple opportunities to influence the US Government and failed to treat that case as a priority. HMG—this HMG, not the last one—said that lessons will be learned from that review and from the Sacoolas case and applied to future cases, so with great respect to the Minister, the Sacoolas case is highly relevant.
Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)
With due respect to the noble Lord, the details of the reasons why the individual was recalled to the United States are still under discussion. The Metropolitan Police was informed that that there was a US investigation relating to indecent images of children, but the offences are now being investigated and the individual has been recalled to the United States. The Metropolitan Police is examining and co-operating and discussing with the US authorities. I also say to the noble Lord that, on the previous case he mentioned, this Government looked at the lessons learned, have accepted all 12 recommendations, will implement all 12 recommendations and will write to the family by the end of this year on progress on that implementation.
Lord Cameron of Lochiel (Con)
My Lords, it has been reported that the Metropolitan Police was informed by American authorities only after they had removed the diplomat from British soil. Can the Minister tell the House exactly when the Government were made aware of the allegations, when they were informed of the diplomat’s removal and whether that sequence of events breached any protocol governing co-operation between British and American authorities on serious criminal allegations?
Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)
As I have said to the House already, the Metropolitan Police was informed by the US authorities on 25 August of a US investigation relating to indecent images of children. As a result of the investigation, a member of US embassy personnel who was at that point based in London was recalled to the United States, where the investigation is focused. Senior officials, and indeed Ministers—in this case, a Minister in the Foreign Office—have discussed the case with senior diplomats in the US embassy to ensure that maximum co-operation occurs with UK law enforcement. Again, the Metropolitan Police is in contact with US law enforcement partners as investigations continue. The important point I would make to the noble Lord is that the US investigation relating to indecent images of children is ongoing in the United States, and that is the key point to this item before the House today.
Source: UK Parliament Hansard API. Debate ID: 5408632.