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

4 items
2 Conclusion 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Acknowledged

However, we are concerned by the Government’s decision not to adopt a formal definition of...

However, we are concerned by the Government’s decision not to adopt a formal definition of TNR. Whilst we acknowledge the difficulties in adopting a single globally accepted definition, we are not persuaded that the existence of differing national definitions would hinder international cooperation on this issue. Adopting a formal UK … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of robust data and strengthening its understanding of transnational repression (TNR), stating it is taking active steps to improve data collection and analysis and will continue to develop its understanding, but it does not commit to adopting a formal UK …
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Ministry of Justice
21 Conclusion 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Acknowledged

We are deeply concerned by the misuse of INTERPOL Red Notices by certain member states.

We are deeply concerned by the misuse of INTERPOL Red Notices by certain member states. Refusal by the INTERPOL secretariat to acknowledge that there is a problem and to take remedial action poses a significant threat to the rights and freedoms of individuals targeted by authoritarian regimes and sends a … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concern about the misuse of INTERPOL Red Notices, stating it monitors existing safeguards, works with INTERPOL on reforms, and will continue to work with partners to ensure the system's legitimacy.
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Ministry of Justice
30 Conclusion 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Acknowledged

The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 do not capture the full range of TNR...

The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 do not capture the full range of TNR tactics, including violence, intimidation, harassment, illegal deportations, abductions and abuse of international mechanisms such as INTERPOL. (Conclusion, Paragraph 88) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it keeps sanctions powers and regimes under review to respond to new developments, and that it can impose sanctions for state-directed crimes, including TNR activities, citing recent examples of such sanctions. It also notes the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 has …
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Ministry of Justice
35 Recommendation 7th Report - Transnational repression i… Acknowledged

The UK should seek to play a leading and proactive role in shaping the Global...

The UK should seek to play a leading and proactive role in shaping the Global response to TNR as part of the US chaired Working Group on Transnational Repression. The Government should also raise the issue at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, scheduled to take place in 2026 … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states its commitment to working with international partners and through multilateral channels like G7 to raise awareness and strengthen resilience to TNR, and to enhance information sharing. However, it does not explicitly confirm a leading role in the US-chaired Working Group or raising …
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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…