Pope to be protected from arrest on UK visit

Sykk

Sky News

The Government has moved to prevent the possibility of an arrest warrant being issued against the Pope during his state visit this autumn.

The Government wants to avoid diplomatic embarrassment
Sky News understands that Whitehall officials have been "seriously concerned" that campaigners would use international criminal rules to try to detain the Pontiff while he is in the UK.
Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC were among those campaigners reported to be looking at the options for bringing a private prosecution in relation to the Pope's alleged cover-up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
Now Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has proposed changes to the rules on universal jurisdiction, a law that allows individuals to be prosecuted in the UK for serious offences such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and torture even if they were carried out abroad.

Justice Secretary Clarke to limit foreign leaders being brought to UK courts
The plans would mean the Director of Public Prosecutions would need to give his consent to any arrest warrant issued under universal jurisdiction.
This would effectively mean taking that power out of the hands of the courts.
Ministers say the current rules are open to abuse because the evidence required to get a warrant is far below the threshold that would be needed to bring a prosecution.
This has meant the rules are often used by those who wish to make a political statement or to cause embarrassment.
The most recent attempt to obtain an arrest warrant for a foreign dignitary was ahead of the visit by former Israeli defence minister Tzipi Livni who cancelled her trip at the last minute to avoid embarrassment.

Former Israeli Defence Minister Tzipi Livni refused to travel to UK
"Our commitment to our international obligations and to ensuring that there is no impunity for those accused of crimes of universal jurisdiction is unwavering," Mr Clarke said.
"It is important, however, that universal jurisdiction cases should be proceeded with in this country only on the basis of solid evidence that is likely to lead to a successful prosecution - otherwise there is a risk of damaging our ability to help in conflict resolution or to pursue a coherent foreign policy.
"The Government has concluded, after careful consideration, that it would be appropriate to require the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions before an arrest warrant can be issued to a private prosecutor in respect of an offence of universal jurisdiction."
The state visit this September will be the first visit by a Pope to the UK since 1982.

This is hilarious. They're actually trying to change the laws and take power from the court just so this fcuking scum can visit Britain.. I know it's nothing to do with us, entertaining to say the least, though.

Einhard

Sykk wrote: »

Sky News



This is hilarious. They're actually trying to change the laws and take power from the court just so this fcuking scum can visit Britain.. I know it's nothing to do with us, entertaining to say the least, though.

Don't really see him as scum myself to be honest.

DonJose

Hope they don't make a habit of this!!!

Genghiz Cohen

Einhard wrote: »

Don't really see him as scum myself to be honest.

Sure it's only the ones who actually rape kids that are scum, not the ones who protect them from the law and hide them away.

tommyhaas

Sykk wrote: »

This is hilarious. They're actually trying to change the laws and take power from the court just so this fcuking scum can visit Britain.

You always know someone is an idiot when they refer to the Pope as 'fcuking scum'.

admiralofthefleet

i hope the IRA/AL QAEDA are on the tail of the animal

mikom

Pope can't be touched.......... oh the irony.

Einhard

Einhard wrote: »

Don't really see him as scum myself to be honest.

Do you know what his job was before Pope?
If I ever met him, i'd spit in his face.. He's just another man, but one who doesn't deserve any more respect than a dog.

prinz

Deleted User wrote: »

If I ever met him, i'd spit in his face.. He's just another man, but one who doesn't deserve any more respect than a dog.

Do you regularly spit at dogs then yeah?

admiralofthefleet

Deleted User wrote: »

Do you know what his job was before Pope?
If I ever met him, i'd spit in his face.. He's just another man, but one who doesn't deserve any more respect than a dog.

i would do as the same as you plus a Cleavland steamer

Einhard

Deleted User wrote: »

Do you know what his job was before Pope?
If I ever met him, i'd spit in his face.. He's just another man, but one who doesn't deserve any more respect than a dog.

You spit in dogs' faces?! :eek:








Damn your nimble fingers prinz...

prinz

Sykk wrote: »

This is hilarious. They're actually trying to change the laws and take power from the court just so this fcuking scum can visit Britain.. I know it's nothing to do with us, entertaining to say the least, though.

Actually has nothing to do with the Pope's visit. They'd have no jurisdiction over him anyway tbh.

Sykk

tommyhaas wrote: »

You always know someone is an idiot when they refer to the Pope as 'fcuking scum'.

Ok lets make an example for your pea brain to comprehend!

Tom is the boss of X. He finds out that 5% of company X's employee's are raping little boys. He however, likes the turnover for this year so best cover that up and say nothing.

AKA: Just because he's got the title of pope doesn't mean he's above anybody else.

PS: You're an idiot of you think Tom is in the wrong according to this fella

Sykk

prinz wrote: »

Actually has nothing to do with the Pope's visit. They'd have no jurisdiction over him anyway tbh.

Yes actually they do. Re-read what's stated in bold in the main article.

partyatmygaff

Einhard wrote: »

Don't really see him as scum myself to be honest.

+1

Minstrel27

A protector of paedophiles is not scum?

partyatmygaff

partyatmygaff wrote: »

+1

Before being Pope, he ordered bishops to keep abuse cases quiet "for the good of the church". Think it was the early nineties when he did it.

Would you mind deleting your +1? It makes you look like a rapist.

dr.bollocko

Sykk and TommyHaas have both been banned for personal abuse.
This topic itself is up for discussion if somebody wishes to begin another thread which is not so openly troll bait. This one, however, is done.