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UK May Curb Arrest Warrants for War Crime Suspects

(Guardian-UK) Natalie Hanman - The British government is proposing to give the director of public prosecutions (DPP) the power to veto arrest warrants for suspected war criminals in the UK. The move is an attempt to make it harder for arrests under the law of "universal jurisdiction" and comes after a series of high-profile cases in which Israeli politicians faced arrest in the UK. An attempt by British lawyers to obtain an arrest warrant for Tzipi Livni, the former Israeli foreign minister and now opposition leader, from a London magistrates court late last year prompted the then government to try to change the legal process by requiring the approval of the attorney general. The proposed changes outlined Thursday by the justice secretary, Kenneth Clarke, instead give the DPP a veto power over arrest warrants. Clarke said: "Our commitment to our international obligations and to ensuring that there is no impunity for those accused of crimes of universal jurisdiction is unwavering. It is important, however, that universal jurisdiction cases should be proceeded with in this country only on the basis of solid evidence that is likely to lead to a successful prosecution - otherwise there is a risk of damaging our ability to help in conflict resolution or to pursue a coherent foreign policy."
2010-07-23 09:04:46
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