§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards liability under the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. [106398]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Government consider in principle that, when operating legitimately within the United Kingdom, officials from another member state 557W should have the same liability for offences committed by them as United Kingdom officers. Officials from another member state would have no immunity from arrest and prosecution for an offence committed in the United Kingdom. Officials from outside the European Union or from a multi-national organisation would have the same liability for offences committed by them as a member of the public.
The Government consider in principle that it is the responsibility of officers causing civil damage to repair that damage. Any damage would be repaired as soon as possible, in general by the member state on which the incident took place. A claim would then be made against the law enforcement authority whose officials caused the damage.