By IRNA,
London : More than 50 suspected war criminals are living freely in Britain, according to figures obtained by the Aegis Trust campaign group.
The UK Border Agency has reportedly recommended the refusal of immigration status to 513 suspected war criminals since 2005, referring 51 of these cases to the Metropolitan Police, but no arrests or prosecutions have resulted.
Suspects living in the UK are said to include torturers from Saddam Hussein’s Iraq regime, a figure from the government of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, and a member of the Sudanese Janjawid, says the trust, which campaigns against genocide.
The figures come as the government is strengthening legislation to extend the timeframe for the prosecution in Britain of war crimes committed to 1991 in line with international law instead of only since 2001.
The Aegis Trust said that the changes would allow the prosecution of four alleged Rwandan suspects who have been living freely in Britain since winning an extradition battle last year.
Nick Donovan, head of campaigns for the trust, said that the new law would make a difference to the UK’s ability to bring war criminals to justice.
“It will allow the prosecution of suspects who cannot be extradited or deported and are free to live here in impunity.” Donovan said.
The Independent newspaper reported Tuesday that the Metropolitan Police Service has a group of officers who are the first point of contact for any allegations of war crimes.
“Information is dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Officers work to secure corroborating evidence available in this country to meet the threshold for a charge to be brought,” Scotland Yard was quoted saying.