US authorities secretly flew an American diplomat out of the UK last month after he was accused of possessing indecent images of children, British ministers confirmed on Monday.
The diplomat was removed from his London residence by US officials without prior notification to British police, according to reports. US personnel have no legal authority to arrest individuals in the UK, and no formal extradition request was made before his departure.
British officials, including Justice Secretary Alex Norris, are in contact with the US embassy regarding the incident, which has raised concerns about diplomatic immunity and compliance with local laws. A government spokesperson reiterated that all foreign diplomats in the UK are expected to obey British law, stating: “Britain expects all foreign diplomats to obey the law while in the UK in the same way we expect all UK diplomats to do so when posted overseas.”
The US embassy acknowledged awareness of the allegations and stated that all personnel are expected to adhere to high standards of conduct, though it declined to comment on the specifics of the case.
Diplomatic immunity and legal jurisdiction
The removal of the diplomat has drawn comparisons to the 2019 case of Anne Sacoolas, a US diplomat whose husband was driving on the wrong side of the road when she struck and killed British teenager Harry Dunn while he was riding his motorcycle. Sacoolas invoked diplomatic immunity and left the UK before facing prosecution in Britain. She later pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving at a virtual High Court hearing in October 2022 and received an eight-month suspended prison sentence.
Charlotte Charles, Harry Dunn’s mother, described the latest incident as “unforgivable” and drew parallels to her son’s case. “They wouldn’t like other countries coming to Washington DC to do this—why on earth do they think they can get away with it here?” she said. “I hope the public speaks up again like they did for us for Harry and that this man is extradited back here to the UK where he belongs to face justice.”
Political and legal responses
Conservative MP Nick Timothy wrote to Justice Secretary Norris, calling the diplomat’s removal “a cover-up” and urging that the individual face trial in an English court if offenses were committed in the UK. “If this is the case, the diplomat should face trial in an English court,” Timothy stated in his letter.
A spokesperson for the US embassy stated they had “quickly informed UK law enforcement” and taken “swift action” regarding the allegations, though they did not elaborate on the nature of the communication or subsequent steps taken.
Ongoing diplomatic tensions
The incident has the potential to further strain relations between London and Washington, particularly amid ongoing scrutiny of diplomatic immunity and the treatment of foreign officials accused of crimes in the UK. British ministers have not publicly detailed their next steps but emphasized the expectation that all diplomats comply with local laws.
The case remains under investigation by US authorities, and the UK government has declined to comment further due to the ongoing process.