HC Deb 13 January 1977 vol 923 c556W
Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legislation or rule of international law protects British citizens from claims of jurisdiction in foreign courts in respect of offences committed or alleged to have been committed in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Tomlinson

Under customary international law there are limits to the circumstances in which a State may exercise jurisdiction over foreign nationals in respect of offences committed or alleged to have been committed outside its territory. Difficult questions may arise as to the territory in which the constituent elements of an offence occurred. Certain treaties provide for the exercise of jurisdiction by contracting parties over foreign nationals in respect of offences committed outside their territory.