Diplomats in London owe £150m in congestion fees
It comes as new figures given to MPs confirmed that 15 critical and important offences, together with sexual assault and drunk-driving, had been allegedly dedicated by diplomats or these entitled to diplomatic immunity between 2019-2022.
The new particulars got here in two written ministerial statements printed by junior overseas minister David Rutley.
The figures for alleged offences embrace the case of US citizen Anne Sacoolas, who hit 19-year-old Harry Dunn together with her automobile outdoors a army base in Northamptonshire in 2019.
She had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf and was capable of return to the US after Harry died, however was later convicted of inflicting his demise in a UK court docket.
One diplomat or dependent from Saudi Arabia confronted a historic allegation of contemporary slavery in 2019, whereas one from the US and one from Iraq confronted allegations of sexual assault.
A spokesperson for the US Embassy stated the mission was “aware” of Mr Rutley’s assertion, however had “no comment on the specifics of this case”.
They declined to say whether or not the person concerned was nonetheless working on the embassy, had been withdrawn from the UK or had their diplomatic immunity waived.
Among different alleged offences had been fraud by abuse of place, cruelty to a toddler and driving inebriated.
Mr Rutley additionally stated that the congestion cost debt owed by overseas embassies in London continues to develop, now totalling greater than £145 million.
Since the introduction of London’s congestion cost in 2003, diplomats have claimed that it’s a tax – making them exempt from paying it.
“We consider that there are no legal grounds to exempt diplomatic missions and international organisations from the London congestion charge, which is comparable to a parking fee or toll charge they are required to pay,” Mr Rutley stated.
As of December 2022 the US embassy owes the biggest debt, greater than £14 million.
It is adopted by the Japanese embassy, which has racked up greater than £10 million in unpaid fees.
The Office for the High Commissioner for India owes £8.5 million, whereas the Chinese embassy owes almost £8 million.
The Russian embassy owes just below £6 million.