Can you detain a diplomat?

Diplomatic immunity is a form of legal immunity that ensures diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country’s laws, although they may still be expelled. The concept and custom of diplomatic immunity dates back thousands of years.

What is diplomatic immunity?

Diplomatic immunity is a principle of international law by which certain foreign government officials are not subject to the jurisdiction of local courts and other authorities for both their official and, to a large extent, their personal activities.

Do consular officers have diplomatic immunity?

Consular immunity offers protections similar to diplomatic immunity, but these protections are not as extensive, given the functional differences between consular and diplomatic officers.

Can someone commit murder with diplomatic immunity?

Diplomatic Immunity in the United States Top-level ambassadors and their immediate deputies can commit crimes — from littering to murder — and remain immune from prosecution in the U.S. courts. In addition, they cannot be arrested or compelled to testify in court.

How do you revoke diplomatic immunity?

The home country can revoke a diplomat’s immunity and allow the host country to prosecute. Most countries are reluctant to take this step. Diplomats typically face sanctions at home. The host country can also force the home country to recall someone immediately.

Why does Anne Sacoolas have diplomatic immunity?

The high court ruled last year that Sacoolas had diplomatic immunity because that deal – known as a waiver – did not include the dependants of US staff. Sacoolas left the UK without the knowledge of police in August, but with the reluctant endorsement of the British Foreign Office.

What is the difference between consul and diplomat?

is that consul is an official residing in a foreign country in order to protect the interests of citizens from his or her nation while diplomat is a person who is accredited, such as an ambassador, to officially represent a government in its relations with other governments or international organisations.

What is the difference between diplomatic and consular immunity?

In codifying the “consular functions” principle, the Vienna Convention maintained the basic difference between consular and dip- lomatic’ 6 immunities: “consular personnel enjoy immunity from legal process only in respect of official acts, whereas diplomatic agents have full personal inviolability and immunity from …