§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables in England into the number of illegal acts by United States service men stationed in the United Kingdom and reported to the police but in relation to which no action was taken because of immunity under the Visiting Forces Act.
§ Mr. MellorThe Visiting Forces Act 1952 does not grant any general immunity from United Kingdom legal process. In certain cases it permits the authorities of a visiting force to exercise primary jurisdiction; but if those authorities do not deal with the case under their law, any offence against United Kingdom law remains open to prosecution in our courts.
We have received no reports from United States forces on this matter, although there is liaison at local level with the police. We do not think it necessary to ask the police to record specially, and report to the Home Office, offences alleged to have been committed by members of the United States forces.