Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted
Paragraph: 43
All cases of arbitrary detention should be pursued at speed from as early as possible...
Recommendation
All cases of arbitrary detention should be pursued at speed from as early as possible with a full mobilisation response before the person is formally charged. We recommend that appropriate consultation take place to establish a clear system for quickly identifying cases that fall under the criteria to be handled by the Director of Arbitrary and Complex Detentions and escalating them to that unit. The FCDO should ensure that it has the in-house capacity and expert capability to negotiate. We recommend that the FCDO prepares advice for families and organisations on the options for engaging a third-party negotiator where the FCDO is unable or unwilling to negotiate with captors, does not recognise the legitimacy of the detaining government, or does not recognise a detention as state hostage taking. The FCDO should constructively work with specialist third-party negotiators and other experts from a very early stage, sharing with affected families as much information as possible.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government believes that their current approach, led by Ministers, and supported by Ambassadors and senior officials who hold the necessary political and geographic expertise, is the best route to securing the release of those who have been arbitrarily detained for diplomatic leverage.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
43
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
28. The task force approach to complex consular cases, and process of informing and accounting to Ministers described to the Committee in our written and oral evidence, and in paragraph 16, is designed to ensure prompt identification of complex detentions. That includes any possible use of a detained British national for diplomatic leverage. case strategies and developments.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗