In 2006, 15 serious offences allegedly committed by people entitled to diplomatic immunity were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. "Serious Offences" are defined as offences that would, in certain circumstances, carry a penalty of 12 months or more imprisonment. Some 24,000 people are entitled to diplomatic immunity in the United Kingdom.
The table below lists those foreign missions whose diplomats allegedly committed serious offences and the type of offence from 2002-2006.
2002
Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm
Nigeria 2
Child Abuse
Morocco 1
Child Neglect
Kazakhstan 1
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Kazakhstan 2
Russia 2
Ukraine 2
Azerbaijan 1
Commonwealth Secretariat 1
Germany 1
Ghana 1
Nigeria 1
Panama 1
Rwanda 1
Facilitating Illegal Immigration
Germany 1
Murder
Colombia 1
Rape
Morocco 1
Public Order & Making False Declarations
Greece 1
2003
Activities Inconsistent with Diplomatic Status (Bribery)
Saudi Arabia 1
Driving under the Influence of Alcohol
Algeria 1
Bolivia 1
Bulgaria 1
Commonwealth Secretariat 1
Italy 1
Kuwait 1
Mexico 1
* Other 1
Russia 1
Rwanda 1
Sierra Leone 1
Ukraine 1
Indecent Assault
South Africa 1
Morocco 1
Possession of an Offensive Weapon
Libya 1
2004
Arranging Sham Marriages
Nigeria 1
Driving under the Influence of Alcohol
Angola 1
Austria 1
Luxembourg 1
Mozambique 1
Serbia and Montenegro 1
Spain 1
Indecent Assault
Congo 1
Saudi Arabia 1
Indecent Assault on Child
Saudi Arabia 1
Robbery and Assault
Angola 1
2005
Actual Bodily Harm
Jordan 1
Assault (Domestic Violence)
Saudi Arabia 1
Dangerous Driving
Turkey 1
Driving under the Influence of Alcohol
Angola 1
Egypt 1
Ghana 1
Lebanon 1
Peru 1
Russia 1
Saudi Arabia 1
Harassment
Turkey 1
Theft (Shoplifting)
Egypt 1
Equatorial Guinea 1
Zambia 1
Theft and Robbery (of Motor Vehicle, Driving without Insurance)
South Africa 1
2006
Attempted Robbery
South Africa 1
Deception (Going Equipped to Commit)
Nigeria 1
Driving under the Influence of Alcohol
Kazakhstan 2
Belarus 1
Côte d'Ivoire 1
Kuwait 1
Malawi 1
Oman 1
Saudi Arabia 1
South Africa 1
Driving without Insurance
Pakistan 1
Failure to Stop for Police/Driving without Insurance and Licence
Kazakhstan 1
Robbery
South Africa 1
Theft (Obtaining Property by Deception)
Ghana 1
* This name has been withheld because the number of diplomatic personnel in the mission concerned is so small that disclosure would lead to the identification of the individual concerned. This in turn would breach the data protection rights of that individual, in particular, the first data protection principle, namely, that personal data should be processed fairly. This is because the offences are only alleged to have been committed and have not been proven in a court of law. In these circumstances, Section 40 (2) and (3) of the Freedom of Information Act confer an absolute exemption on disclosure of this information.