Coroners and Justice Bill

My Lords, the background to this vital issue has been set out with great eloquence by the noble Lord, Lord Carlile. I should like to add that we are extremely grateful to the Government for having been so patient in listening to our concerns and, indeed, for having moved so far in meeting them. We are of course also indebted to the organisations that have provided consistent and expert advice: the Aegis Trust, Redress, JUSTICE and African Rights. We stressed in our representations that we would wish to see the UK conform to several other countries that manifest a determination to ensure that genocide suspects are prosecuted and that the UK in no way acts as a safe haven for these people, of which there are still too many. We argued that a firm stance from the Government would act as a strong deterrent and, therefore, far from the courts being flooded with cases, there would in time be fewer, as no one would henceforth risk coming to the UK. That said—and I recognise the broad inclusion of those considered to be residents—there are remaining opportunities for those suspects who arrive to receive medical treatment, to visit on business matters or even to visit their children at school in this country. Even these temporary visitors would, however, be liable for arrest, treated as residents and thus liable to prosecution if—I repeat, if—there were to be a dedicated and properly resourced unit within the Metropolitan Police whose task would be to investigate and follow up reports of suspected war and other heinous crimes. The mere existence of such a unit would act as a further deterrent to would-be visitors. Moreover, re-establishing such a unit—there was such a unit some time ago—would be in keeping with the Council of the European Union, which recommended that member states set up such units. Experience of other countries, particularly that of Sweden, shows these units to be highly successful in bringing about the prosecution of genocidaires and others suspected of serious crimes. That may be a hope too far, but its desirability at least should be on the record. Once again, I thank the Government and, indeed, the Bill team and trust that they, too, will be satisfied to have been part of making a small but hugely important historical change.