Every so often we hear cries of outrage about foreign diplomats using Diplomatic Immunity to escape prosecution for parking offences and sometimes much worse alleged crimes. There tends to be a slightly xenophobic tone in some such reports, with the clear implication being that we Brits wouldn't do such a thing. It was therefore with some interest that I read that a recent Freedom of Information Act request showed that in the past ten years 18 of our diplomats have invoked Diplomatic Immunity to avoid prosecution for alleged frauds, assaults, defamation, trespass, and driving offences! Furthermore, according to today's Daily Mirror, all of those accused kept their jobs and their pensions - the Foreign Office maintains that 'some' of the allegations were made in 'bad faith'. Irrespective of that, it's worth bearing this story in mind the next time there's an outbreak of indignation about other countries' records on this matter!
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