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War criminals in the United Kingdom - UK Border Agency response
17 June 2009
The UK Border Agency has responded to a new report on suspected war criminals in the United Kingdom, published by the Aegis Trust.
The report claims that, under United Kingdom law, people who are 'resident' in the United Kingdom can be prosecuted but those who are 'present' here cannot. This means, it says, that suspected war criminals in the United Kingdom cannot be prosecuted if they have been refused asylum, do not have residence and cannot be returned to their country of origin because they will be tortured or killed.
A UK Border Agency spokesperson said:
'We are determined to ensure that the UK does not become a safe haven for war criminals or those who have committed crimes against humanity or genocide. Any suggestion that someone applying to enter or remain in the UK has been involved in war crimes is taken extremely seriously and is referred to specialist caseworkers.
'We do not give refugee status to war criminals, and our aim is to remove such people as quickly as possible.
'We are introducing "special immigration status" which will allow us to deny leave to remain to people who are excluded from international protection and other serious criminals who the courts have determined cannot be removed from the UK. They will be denied the right to work, and denied access to social housing and the mainstream benefits system.'
The UK Border Agency has a war crimes unit, and since 2007 every asylum claimant has been screened for suspected war crimes.