Report: Saudi diplomats among worst in London

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The number of foreign diplomats and embassy staff in London being arrested over crimes is on the rise, with Saudi Arabia's embassy topping the list, says a new report.

The Metropolitan Police provided fresh figures of the crimes including sex attacks and robberies, which were released to the daily Evening Standards following a Freedom of Information request.

The figures showed that 59 officially registered foreign diplomats have been held for crimes committed in the UK capital during the past three years, but managed to escape justice claiming to enjoy diplomatic immunity.

According to the figures, Saudi Arabia's mission has produced the highest number of offenders, with four of its embassy staff nabbed for drink-drive charges and another for shoplifting.

But, the most serious case involved a man from Sierra Leon's High Commission, who was arrested for rape. Others detained by the Met included suspected robbers from the Nigerian and Ivory Coast embassies and sex attackers from Egypt and Bolivia.

Further offences committed during the diplomatic crimewave included fraud, grievous bodily harm, drink-driving and shoplifting.

A suspect from Oman's embassy was arrested for making a bomb threat, according to figures.

Jerry Jones, a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said she was appalled by the fact that serious offenders were escaping justice.

"These are people who could go on to commit other offences and it is time that these antiquated laws were revised so that people who commit crimes can be prosecuted," she said.

The statistics showed that 27 diplomats or their relatives were arrested during the year to the end of March.

This is while that the previous year's total was 22, while the 2008/9 figure was 10. It means that the number arrested has risen by 170 percent over the three years.

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