Recommendation 24

HM Government · verbatim extract Rejected

60. The Government supports accountability and upholds our international obligations including under the Geneva Conventions. UK courts have jurisdiction under the International Criminal Court Act (ICCA) 2001, where an offence is committed by a UK national, a UK resident or is subject to UK service jurisdiction. The UK exercises universal jurisdiction in a number of circumstances, including for torture, under the Criminal Justice Act, 1988, and for grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions under the Geneva Conventions Act, 1957. 61. Where there is no apparent link between the UK and the crime, in general we support the principle that international crimes are best investigated and prosecuted close to where they are perpetrated. This is because of the advantages in securing evidence and the witnesses necessary for a fair investigation and prosecution, as part of a credible judicial process. 62. The most serious international crimes not covered by our domestic legislation providing for universal jurisdiction are generally already subject to the jurisdiction of the ICC. The UK is a strong supporter of the ICC and its mission to end impunity. We do not believe that legislative change is required at this time.