The FCDO’s approach to state level hostage situations

Foreign Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 1 Apr 2022 Closed: 29 May 2024 Parliament page
This inquiry will examine the processes and approaches taken by the UK Government in securing the release of the hostages in Iran, and other similar situations. It will assess the likely impact their approach may have on deterring other states from using this tactic and will consider options for multilateral … Read more
21 Recommendations
18 Conclusions
2 Reports
5 Oral sessions
4 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
20 Oct
2023
Report published
6 Jul
2023
Report published
6 Jul
2023
Correspondence
6 Jul
2023
Correspondence
4 Apr
2023
Report published
28 Mar
2023
Correspondence
13 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
13 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
7 Feb
2023
Oral evidence
7 Feb
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
8 Sep
2022
Correspondence
19 Jul
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
13 Mar 2023
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Foreign Affairs Committee
David Rutley · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Jennifer Anderson · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
7 Feb 2023
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Mickey Bergman · Governor Richardson Center for Global Engagement Phil Harper QPM · Sheep One Hundred
19 Jul 2022
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Dr Tatyana Eatwell · Doughty Street Chambers Hans-Jakob Schindler · Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Rupert Skilbeck · REDRESS
24 May 2022
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Brian Jenkins · Rand Corporation Rachel Briggs · The Clarity Factory The Rt Hon. the Lord Hammond of Runnymede
17 May 2022
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Rt Hon Alistair Burt · Foreign and Commonwealth Office Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
Clear
10 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - Stolen years: comba…
We recommend biennial meetings of Ambassadors and Deputy Heads of Mission of ‘Five Eyes’ countries...
We recommend biennial meetings of Ambassadors and Deputy Heads of Mission of ‘Five Eyes’ countries in states with a record of state hostage taking to discuss live cases and lessons learnt, and to disseminate best practice.
Government Response
The government states that there is already regular (at least biennial) communication amongst diplomatic and consular colleagues from ‘Five Eyes’ countries between capitals and overseas.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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11 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - Stolen years: comba…
In cases we have examined, the FCDO has been too slow to identify detentions of...
In cases we have examined, the FCDO has been too slow to identify detentions of concern and to escalate these cases within the department. Any system of rapidly identifying such cases needs to be able to harness the extensive knowledge … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the FCDO already uses a task force approach to harness knowledge and expertise, and trains staff to reassess complex consular cases systematically and escalate them to senior staff without delay.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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14 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - Stolen years: comba…
All cases of arbitrary detention should be pursued at speed from as early as possible...
All cases of arbitrary detention should be pursued at speed from as early as possible with a full mobilisation response before the person is formally charged. We recommend that appropriate consultation take place to establish a clear system for quickly … Read more
Government Response
The government believes that their current approach, led by Ministers, and supported by Ambassadors and senior officials who hold the necessary political and geographic expertise, is the best route to securing the release of those who have been arbitrarily detained for diplomatic leverage.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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15 Conclusion Accepted
Sixth Report - Stolen years: comba…
The evidence would suggest that the Government’s use of diplomatic protection in cases of arbitrary...
The evidence would suggest that the Government’s use of diplomatic protection in cases of arbitrary detention was badly handled. It was ill thought through and poorly implemented. It is likely that this was due to officials’ discomfort with this approach … Read more
Government Response
The government believes that the current approach, led by Ministers, and supported by Ambassadors and senior officials who hold the necessary political and geographic expertise, is the best route to securing the release of those who have been arbitrarily detained.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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16 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - Stolen years: comba…
We recommend that in the next six months the Government learns lessons from the extending...
We recommend that in the next six months the Government learns lessons from the extending of Diplomatic Protection to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and draws up clear guidelines on situations where diplomatic protection could be considered and how it might be employed. … Read more
Government Response
The Government believes that its current approach, led by Ministers, and supported by Ambassadors and senior officials who hold the necessary political and geographic expertise, is the best route to securing the release of those who have been arbitrarily detained for diplomatic leverage.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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19 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - Stolen years: comba…
The presumption that “quiet diplomacy” and family silence is always appropriate throughout cases of state...
The presumption that “quiet diplomacy” and family silence is always appropriate throughout cases of state detentions and state hostage taking is a false one, other than in the initial phases. Silence abets state hostage taking. We recommend the Government uses … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation and says it already seeks to support families who wish to proceed publicly, assessing options on a case-by-case basis and offering advice while respecting the family's decision.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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21 Recommendation Accepted
Sixth Report - Stolen years: comba…
We recommend that if a family believes their case would be best served by going...
We recommend that if a family believes their case would be best served by going public, the Government should have frank, detailed and regular conversations with them on the likely impacts of their decision and advise on how to proceed … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has adopted the task force approach recommended in the Macgregor review to harness the widest possible range of knowledge, experience, and expertise and works with external partners.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 36 of 21 classified
Accepted 7
Acknowledged 17
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 4
Rejected 6
Total 21 recs + 18 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
6 Jul 2023 From committee Letter to the Foreign Secretary relating to the Government Response to the Committee's report: 'Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy', dated 05/07/2023
Parliament page
6 Jul 2023 Correspondence with the Minister for Americas and the Caribbean following the FAC oral evidence session on 13 March 2023, dated 22/05/2023 and 31/03/2023
Parliament page
28 Mar 2023 Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to the Committee's inquiry on the FCDO's approach to state level hostage situations, dated 21/03/2023 and 06/03/2023
Parliament page
8 Sep 2022 Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to the status of Morad Tahbaz's detention, dated 12/08/2022 and 20/07/2022
Parliament page