Select Committee · Human Rights (Joint Committee)

Transnational repression in the UK

Status: Closed Opened: 24 Jan 2025 Closed: 26 Feb 2026 23 recommendations 14 conclusions 1 report

The Committee’s inquiry will explore how transnational repression affects the human rights of people living in the UK. The inquiry will examine the effectiveness of the UK’s current legal and policy frameworks in relation to transnational repression, and the assistance available to the victims of such attacks. Please do not share identifying personal details as … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
7th Report - Transnational repression in the UK HC 681 30 Jul 2025 37 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

11 items
1 Conclusion 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Accepted

We welcome the Government’s decision to describe TNR in broad terms.

We welcome the Government’s decision to describe TNR in broad terms. This approach provides an important opportunity to ensure that all victims of TNR are recognised regardless of ethnicity, nationality or background. (Conclusion, Paragraph 19)

Government response AI summary
The government accepted the committee's welcome of its broad description of TNR, affirming its agreement with the principle that the definition should capture all victims regardless of background.
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Ministry of Justice
20 Recommendation 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Accepted

We further recommend that data collected through the hotline be anonymised and recorded to inform...

We further recommend that data collected through the hotline be anonymised and recorded to inform policy development and threat assessments. (Recommendation, Paragraph 63) INTERPOL and visa applications

Government response AI summary
The government states that policing is actively building increased systems to collate and analyse data from public reporting to inform strategic and operational response, policy development, and threat assessments, aligning with the recommendation.
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Ministry of Justice
25 Recommendation 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Accepted

In addition, the Government should take proactive steps to protect individuals facing an extradition risk...

In addition, the Government should take proactive steps to protect individuals facing an extradition risk due to a politically motivated Red Notice. A voluntary mechanism should be introduced to allow targeted British Nationals to notify the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of planned travel to high-risk countries. This would … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government did not commit to introducing a new voluntary mechanism for British Nationals to notify the FCDO of travel to high-risk countries. Instead, it highlighted existing INTERPOL processes, FCDO consular assistance, travel advice, and guidance already available to individuals.
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Ministry of Justice
26 Conclusion 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Accepted

The presence of a politically motivated INTERPOL Red Notice can have serious implications for individuals...

The presence of a politically motivated INTERPOL Red Notice can have serious implications for individuals seeking asylum or applying for visas, often resulting in automatic refusal without due consideration of the underlying political context. (Conclusion, Paragraph 78) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the issue of politically motivated INTERPOL Red Notices and states that immigration decision-makers already receive extensive guidance on handling them, with processes kept under review. It clarifies that Country Policy and Information Notes do not cover case-specific Red Notices but assess country …
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Ministry of Justice
27 Recommendation 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Accepted

The Home Office should ensure that all relevant immigration staff are adequately trained and informed...

The Home Office should ensure that all relevant immigration staff are adequately trained and informed about the potential misuse of Red Notices. In addition, the Country Policy and Information Notes used in assessing asylum claims should be revised to explicitly address the threat of transnational repression. The Government should update … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that immigration staff already receive extensive guidance on Red Notices and processes are kept under review. It also indicates that Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) can include transnational repression but do not cover case-specific Red Notices, stating relevant information may be …
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Ministry of Justice
28 Conclusion 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Accepted

TNR represents a growing threat to democratic values, the rule of law, and freedom of...

TNR represents a growing threat to democratic values, the rule of law, and freedom of expression. We are concerned that foreign policy decisions and international trade partnerships are often made without sufficient consideration of the TNR record of perpetrator states. A failure to acknowledge and respond to instances of TNR … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it already recognises TNR as a threat to national security, human rights, and democracy, and deploys diplomatic measures, including sanctions. It will consider including TNR in a future Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report and referencing it in the updated Overseas Security …
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Ministry of Justice
31 Recommendation 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Accepted

The Committee recommends that the Government review the scope of the UK’s sanctions framework to...

The Committee recommends that the Government review the scope of the UK’s sanctions framework to assess the feasibility of introducing specific TNR sanctions. The UK should also adopt a more proactive approach to sanctions, particularly in cases where UK nationals and residents are directly affected. This should include the timely … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged the recommendation but indicated that it already keeps its sanctions framework under review and can impose sanctions for state-directed crimes, including those amounting to TNR, providing examples of past designations.
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Ministry of Justice
33 Recommendation 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Accepted

The UK should support efforts to elevate TNR as a priority on the UN agenda...

The UK should support efforts to elevate TNR as a priority on the UN agenda and promote coordinated international action against its use by authoritarian regimes. The Government should also ensure that information and data on TNR is shared with likeminded countries through fora such as the Council of Europe, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to working with international partners to raise awareness of transnational repression (TNR) and strengthen collaboration, citing recent multilateral meetings, supporting the G7 statement on TNR, and enhancing information sharing through the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism.
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Ministry of Justice
34 Recommendation 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Accepted

We recommend that the Government work closely with Canada to strengthen international collaboration on countering...

We recommend that the Government work closely with Canada to strengthen international collaboration on countering TNR during Canada’s 2025 G7 Presidency. As part of this effort, the UK should play a leading role in the launch and development of the proposed Digital TNR Detection 46 Academy under the G7 Rapid … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation, committing to strengthen international collaboration with G7 partners, including Canada, on countering TNR. It will deliver initiatives such as enhancing information sharing through a TNR Resilience and Response Framework in the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism.
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Ministry of Justice
36 Conclusion 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Accepted

The UK’s response to TNR would benefit significantly from more structured and consistent coordination across...

The UK’s response to TNR would benefit significantly from more structured and consistent coordination across government departments. Currently, responsibilities related to TNR are dispersed across the Home Office, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the National Crime Agency (NCA), and the intelligence and security services. While each plays a vital … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepted the committee's conclusion regarding the need for more structured coordination on TNR across government. It stated that a dedicated team has been established within the Home Office to act as the central point of coordination for the UK's overarching TNR strategy.
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Ministry of Justice
37 Recommendation 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Accepted

We recommend this new unit has a central role in coordinating the UK’s response to...

We recommend this new unit has a central role in coordinating the UK’s response to TNR, ensuring that intelligence, law enforcement, and policy functions are aligned and responsive to emerging threats. We recommend the appointment of a dedicated lead for transnational repression within the unit, responsible for driving cross-government coordination. … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the need for structured coordination to counter transnational repression (TNR) and highlights the existing Defending Democracy Taskforce as coordinating the whole-of-government response, with the Home Office owning the overall UK response, implying that existing mechanisms achieve the recommended coordination without needing …
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Ministry of Justice

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
21 May 2025 Andrew Scurry · Homeland Security Group, Home Office, Commander Dominic Murphy · Metropolitan Police, Dan Jarvis MP · Home Office, Grace Lucas · Home Office View ↗
26 Mar 2025 Mr James Lynch · Fair Square, Mr Martin Plaut · Kings College London, Susan Coughtrie · Foreign Policy Centre View ↗
12 Mar 2025 Chloe Cheung, Mr Ben Keith · 5 St Andrews Hill, Mr Hossein Abedini · National Council of Resistance of Iran, Rhys Davies · Temple Garden Chambers View ↗
5 Feb 2025 Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC · Doughty Street Chambers, Dr Andrew Chubb · Lancaster University, Laura Harth · Safeguard Defenders View ↗

Who gave evidence

14 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Andrew Scurry · Director Homeland Security Group, Home Office 1
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC · Barrister Doughty Street Chambers 1
Chloe Cheung 1
Commander Dominic Murphy · Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Metropolitan Police 1
Dan Jarvis MP · Minister for Security Home Office 1
Dr Andrew Chubb · Senior Lecturer in Chinese Politics and Internati… Lancaster University 1
Grace Lucas · Deputy Director Home Office 1
Laura Harth · China in the World Director Safeguard Defenders 1
Mr Ben Keith · Barrister 5 St Andrews Hill 1
Mr Hossein Abedini · Deputy director National Council of Resistance of Iran 1
Mr James Lynch · Co-Director Fair Square 1
Mr Martin Plaut · Journalist and Visiting Senior Research Fellow Kings College London 1
Rhys Davies · Barrister Temple Garden Chambers 1
Susan Coughtrie · Project Director, Unsafe for Scrutiny Foreign Policy Centre 1

Correspondence

8 letters
DateDirectionTitle
18 Dec 2025 Correspondence from the Security Minister to the Joint Committee on Human Right…
30 Oct 2025 Correspondence from the Committee to the Secretary of State for the Home Depart…
16 Oct 2025 Correspondence from the Eritrean Embassy to the Committee regarding Transnation…
16 Oct 2025 Correspondence from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pac…
16 Oct 2025 Correspondence from Lord Hanson of Flint to the Committee regarding Transnation…
18 Jul 2025 Correspondence to the Committee from the Security Minister regarding Transnatio…
22 May 2025 Correspondence from the Security Minister to the Committee regarding Transnatio…
12 Mar 2025 Correspondence to the Committee from the Security Minister regarding Transnatio…