'Nearly 100 war crimes suspects' in UK last year
By Tom Bateman-30 July 2013
The Home Office last year identified nearly 100 suspected war criminals who had made UK immigration applications, figures released to the BBC suggest.
The majority of cases involved people already likely to have been living in Britain for a number of years.
Suspects originated from countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Rwanda, Serbia and Sri Lanka.
The Home Office says it is determined the UK doesn't become a "refuge for war criminals".
Human rights groups are calling for more criminal prosecutions in Britain as the courts commonly block deportation on human rights grounds if suspects face torture or death in their home country.
The figures emerged from a Freedom of Information request made by the BBC.
They show that, in the 15 months from January 2012, the Home Office researched nearly 800 cases where individuals were suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
It made "adverse recommendations" against 99 people who had applied for British citizenship, asylum or leave to remain in the UK. A further 16 war crimes suspects had applied to enter the UK.
It follows earlier figures suggesting more than 700 suspected war criminals were identified by UK immigration officials between 2005 and 2012.
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