UK government reviews why police ceding criminal cases to US military
The UK government and police are reviewing why criminal cases involving US military personnel on British soil are being ceded to US military courts. This follows reports that victims in these cases often receive fewer legal protections than they would in the British justice system.
Why it matters
It raises critical questions about national sovereignty, legal jurisdiction, and the rights of victims in cases involving foreign military personnel.
Complainants are often not given the same protections in the US military court martial process as they would have got in a British court. Illustration: Guardian Design/Getty Complainants are often not given the same protections in the US military court martial process as they would have got in a British court. Illustration: Guardian Design/Getty Base justice Police UK government reviews why police ceding criminal cases to US military Exclusive: ministers and police chiefs examining how cases involving US military personnel on UK soil are handled after Guardian revelations
Prefer the Guardian on Google The UK government and police chiefs are reviewing the process through which US military personnel accused of committing serious crimes on UK soil are avoiding the British justice system.
The effort, involving multiple government departments, is examining why UK police forces, which have primary responsibility for investigating such cases, have been ceding jurisdiction to US military investigators.
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