War crime detectives moved to fight terror

SCOTLAND YARD’S war crimes unit has suspended its operations due to a shortage of resources, it has emerged.

The unit, which is part of the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command, has been stood down temporarily because its officers have been told to focus on investigations into recent attacks in Manchester and London. The move was revealed when a human rights group contacted the Met to alert them to the fact a war crimes suspect had been spotted in London.

Redress, which campaigns for justice for victims of torture, said the decision by the Met was worrying and would send a message to international war criminals that they were “untouchable” in the UK.

Explaining the decision, a spokesman for the Met said while officers were having to focus on counter-terrorism work, the situation was being continually reviewed.

But Carla Ferstman, Redress director, said: “To rule out a whole class of criminal behaviour is an invitation to torturers and mass murderers to come to the UK – they are now untouchable.”

A spokesman said: “We are continuing to investigate war crimes but we are focusing our resources on tackling the ongoing terrorist threat.”