People who have witnessed war crimes in Ukraine are being asked to report them on arrival in Britain.
Digital signs are being displayed at airports, railway stations and ports asking for information. Those who “may have witnessed or been a victim of any possible war crimes or crimes against humanity” are told they can report them to police and are asked to hand over any photographic or video evidence.
The World Health Organisation has logged 31 attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine since the invasion began. Images and reports of attacks on these and other civilian targets, such as schools, suggest a clear-cut war crimes case.
Evidence from arrivals to Britain will be handed to the Metropolitan Police’s war crimes unit, which is supporting an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague. The unit is part of Scotland Yard’s counterterrorism command and holds national responsibility for investigations.
Detectives are appealing for direct evidence of war crimes in Ukraine as far back as November 21, 2013, when the country’s president rejected closer integration with the EU, prompting protests that led to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Evidence may be shared with the ICC.
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“This could be in the form of direct messages, images or videos that friends or relatives here in the UK have been sent by those in Ukraine. Or it could be somebody who was previously in Ukraine and who may have witnessed or even been a victim of a war crime and has since travelled to the UK,” Richard Smith, head of counterterrorism command, said.
Smith said that the force did not want to hear from the public about information seen on the internet or social media.
Russia is not a member of the ICC but Putin and his allies could be prosecuted if given up by a future Kremlin regime.
