To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Freedom from Torture report entitled UK partnerships with Chinese policing institutions linked to crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, dated 17 May 2022, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of reports of collaboration between the London Policing College, which is a partner of the Metropolitan Police, and Xinjiang Police College, China’s Ministry of Public Security and the People’s Public Security University of China.
Answered on
13 July 2022
The Government has robust processes in place to ensure that all projects funded by UK aid meet our human rights obligations and values. This includes publicly available HMG guidance (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/583304/OSJA_Guidance_2017.pdf) that sets out the human rights risks that must be considered prior to providing any justice or security sector assistance.
We are aware of concerns raised by a recent report from Freedom from Torture regarding a British Council partnership with London Policing College (LPC). This project was part of a regional programme that included efforts to reduce human rights violations and other malpractice through better policing. Neither the Xinjiang Policing College, nor the People's Public Security University of China participated in the project, and no funds were distributed to any overseas institutions. The LPC have now ceased all programme partnerships in China.