Harry Davies

The UK government, police chiefs and two forces are reviewing why British police have transferred serious criminal investigations involving US military personnel to American military authorities. The reviews follow Guardian reporting on cases in which alleged sexual offences were handled through US court martials, where victims may receive fewer protections and conduct meeting the UK definition of rape may be prosecuted as lesser offences. Ministers are consulting complainant Sarah Steele, seeking explanations from the US, and reviewing whether police should have sought Crown Prosecution Service advice. New guidance has been issued to chief constables, while concerns from MPs across parties have renewed calls for crimes committed in Britain to be investigated and prosecuted under British law.

US military courts handling alleged rapes committed by American service personnel in the UK often prosecute the cases as sexual assault under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, whose definition of rape is narrower than the UK’s. The resulting lesser charges and unfamiliar court-martial process can leave survivors feeling invalidated and retraumatized. Experts and former military prosecutors criticize the law’s drafting and the system’s structure, including commanders’ influence over charges and jury selection. Cases involving Jacob Wulfson and Tyrion Davis illustrate the disparity between alleged conduct and the charges or convictions recorded.

James Loubeau, a former US airman, was accused of sexually assaulting six women in England during a four-month period in 2019, including British women and US service personnel. Suffolk police transferred responsibility for two allegations involving British women to US military police, allowing the case to proceed through a US court martial, where Loubeau was acquitted in 2020. After an FBI investigation connected him through DNA to another alleged assault involving a 19-year-old US servicewoman, he was convicted in Miami in 2025, sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to undergo 20 years of post-release monitoring. The case has prompted scrutiny of the 1951 US-UK agreement governing jurisdiction over crimes involving American military personnel and renewed pressure on Suffolk police to explain why British courts were bypassed.

ICC member states voted 82–13, with 11 abstentions, to remove prosecutor Karim Khan after the court’s governing body found serious misconduct connected to sexual abuse allegations. Khan denies the allegations, and his lawyers say the disciplinary process was unfair and will be challenged. His tenure included arrest warrant applications for Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu, which remain unaffected. The scandal has damaged the ICC’s prosecution division, while renewed US sanctions and threats add pressure as member states prepare to elect a new prosecutor.

Two women who accuse International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan of sexual misconduct have spoken publicly, including an ICC staffer identified as Sarah who detailed escalating inappropriate behavior. A second woman, Patricia, described similar experiences dating back to 2009. Khan denies all allegations while his lawyer argues the process is politically motivated. The claims emerge ahead of a UN vote on whether to remove Khan following his suspension for serious misconduct. Documents indicate no evidence that Sarah acted on behalf of outside actors, despite suggestions from Khan’s representatives. The outcome will shape leadership at the court as it faces heightened political scrutiny.

Two British women who accused US airman Tyrion Davis of rape describe the trauma of undergoing a US military court martial after UK authorities transferred jurisdiction to the US Air Force. Rebecca and Emily detail their allegations, their treatment by investigators, and the emotional impact of testifying before a panel composed entirely of Davis’s military peers. Davis was acquitted of most charges but convicted of one count of non‑consensual penetration, receiving a 10‑month sentence and a dishonourable discharge. The case raises wider concerns about the fairness and transparency of US military tribunals handling serious crimes committed in the UK, echoing previous incidents and prompting political scrutiny.

A US airman accused of exposing himself to multiple females in Cambridgeshire avoided prosecution in the UK after Cambridgeshire police transferred the case to the US military, allowing a court martial to proceed instead. The transfer mirrored an earlier case involving a US pilot convicted of strangling a British woman but tried under US military jurisdiction. The airman later had his conviction overturned on appeal after a technical error. The handling of both cases has intensified scrutiny of an agreement enabling the US to request jurisdiction over crimes committed off‑base by American personnel, prompting criticism from UK officials and calls for greater transparency from the US government.

David Lammy is pressing the US government for a full explanation of the handling of Sarah Steele’s assault case after American pilot Jacob Wulfson was court‑martialed on a US airbase despite the crime occurring off duty on UK soil. The case highlights an agreement that assigns UK police primary responsibility for such incidents but is often superseded by US jurisdiction. UK officials and MPs from multiple parties are calling for clarity and stressing that victims should receive justice through the British legal system, while criticism mounts over the US military justice process and its impact on UK-based victims.

More than $4bn will be invested in upgrading US military and intelligence bases in the UK, including new nuclear weapons storage facilities at RAF Lakenheath. Additional funding will modernize RAF Mildenhall’s special operations infrastructure and expand RAF Fairford’s capacity for heavy bombers used in strikes on Iran. The secretive Menwith Hill spy base will receive $163m for undisclosed upgrades. The expansion underscores the scale of the US military footprint in Britain and raises renewed questions about the UK’s role in hosting American forces, amid tensions over Donald Trump’s criticisms of the UK government.

Cambridgeshire police are under scrutiny for allowing the US Air Force to take control of the investigation into the 2023 assault of Sarah Steele by American pilot Jacob Wulfson, resulting in his court martial rather than prosecution in the UK. Steele disputes police claims that she opted not to speak with them, arguing she was never consulted before the case was handed over. The handling of jurisdiction, the conduct of the US military justice system, and inconsistencies with regional policing policies have raised concerns among MPs and prompted a government review. Calls are growing for clearer protocols to ensure UK victims’ wishes are prioritised in cases involving US military personnel stationed in Britain.

Downing Street criticised the handling of a case in which a US fighter pilot, Jacob Wulfson, was prosecuted solely by a US military court after strangling British academic Sarah Steele in Cambridge. UK authorities ceded jurisdiction to the US military, preventing the case from reaching the Crown Prosecution Service. Government spokespersons, including Keir Starmer’s office and justice minister Jake Richards, expressed concern and said the circumstances would be reviewed. Wulfson was convicted of strangulation but acquitted of sexual assault by an all‑male panel at a court martial at RAF Lakenheath, receiving a six‑month sentence and dismissal from the air force.

A British academic assaulted by a US fighter pilot in Cambridge describes the distressing experience of having the case handled through a US military court martial instead of the UK justice system. Despite the crime occurring on British soil, US authorities took jurisdiction, leading to an all‑male panel convicting the pilot only of strangulation while acquitting him of sexual assault. The victim criticises the aggressive questioning, lack of protections standard in UK courts, and absence of consultation by British police before handing the case to US investigators. The situation highlights concerns over how the presence of American forces in the UK affects accountability, prompting calls for greater transparency and survivor involvement when jurisdiction is transferred to the US military.

Academic Sarah Steele was strangled in England by Jacob Wulfson, a US fighter pilot, but her case was handled by the US military justice system rather than British courts. The podcast examines the little-known arrangement allowing US military personnel to face court martial for alleged crimes committed in the UK, including how military judges and juries differ from British courts. Steele describes the distress of having her case heard by a jury composed entirely of air force personnel, and the system faces growing scrutiny over its suitability and fairness.

US military personnel stationed in the UK are often prosecuted through US courts martial rather than British courts under provisions of the 1951 Status of Forces agreement, which grants the US broad jurisdiction when its service members are involved. Although British authorities technically have first right to prosecute crimes committed off duty or against UK citizens, they frequently cede cases to US jurisdiction. The arrangement has drawn scrutiny due to its opacity and the serious nature of some offences. A notable exception involved the 2022 case of Mikayla Hayes, in which UK prosecutors successfully challenged a US attempt to claim jurisdiction, resulting in a British court trial. The system continues to raise questions about accountability and the balance of authority between the two countries.

US Air Force Capt Jacob Wulfson was tried at a court martial at RAF Lakenheath after British authorities agreed that the US military would lead the investigation into allegations arising from an encounter in Cambridge. Sarah Steele said Wulfson drugged, strangled and sexually assaulted her; the military jury convicted him of strangulation and disobeying orders not to contact her, but acquitted him of the sexual assault and drug-related charges. His fellow airmen sentenced him to six months in confinement, a formal reprimand and dismissal from the Air Force. The case highlights how jurisdictional arrangements can move alleged crimes by US service members away from British courts and subject victims to a military justice process with different charges, procedures and sentencing rules.

Karim Khan was suspended from practising as a barrister in England and Wales after the Bar Standards Board imposed an interim suspension linked to sexual misconduct allegations that also led to his earlier suspension as ICC chief prosecutor. Khan denies the accusations, which were made by a former employee and previously reviewed by an ICC advisory panel. His legal team argues the disciplinary action stems from a political body’s decision and plans to challenge it. ICC member states will meet in July to determine whether Khan should remain in office while his deputies continue leading investigations, including cases involving Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza conflict.

ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan was suspended after an inquiry found he had committed serious misconduct related to sexual abuse allegations made by a former staff member. The ICC’s governing body referred the case to the court’s 125 member states, potentially leading to a vote on his removal. Khan denies all allegations. The decision followed a UN watchdog report, judicial expert advice and submissions from both Khan and the accuser, marking an unprecedented situation for the court.

Microsoft has adopted new human‑rights governance measures after an internal inquiry confirmed its cloud technology had been used by the Israeli military’s Unit 8200 in mass surveillance of Palestinians. The company ended the military’s access to relevant cloud and AI services and announced reforms to vetting national security‑related contracts, managing security clearances, and reviewing acceptable‑use compliance in politically sensitive contexts. The inquiry followed reporting that raised concerns about employee transparency and conflicting loyalties within the Israeli subsidiary and led to leadership changes there. The revelations spurred protests from activists, shareholders and employees demanding greater accountability over Microsoft’s dealings with Israeli security agencies.

Microsoft’s inquiry into its technology’s use by Israel’s Unit 8200 prompted the departure of Microsoft Israel’s general manager, Alon Haimovich, after findings indicated violations of company ethics and terms of service. The investigation followed revelations that Unit 8200 used Microsoft Azure to operate a large-scale surveillance system collecting Palestinian civilian calls. Microsoft terminated the unit’s access to its cloud and AI tools and examined whether Israel-based staff withheld information from headquarters. Documents suggest Haimovich helped develop the relationship with the intelligence unit, including creating a segregated Azure area for sensitive data. The inquiry also led to additional managerial departures, while Microsoft executives reiterated that leadership had been unaware of Azure’s use for mass surveillance.

US military bases across the UK play a central role in US bombing operations in Iran, intelligence gathering, and global military logistics, prompting renewed scrutiny of their purpose and the extent of British control. Key installations such as RAF Fairford, Mildenhall, Lakenheath and Menwith Hill enable strategic bombing, aerial refuelling, fighter deployments and global surveillance. Questions over targeting oversight, nuclear weapon storage and opaque bilateral agreements have intensified amid disagreements between the UK government and the Trump administration over military actions. The broader US global base network shows how diplomatic relationships can constrain American operations, with resistance from European allies highlighting growing tensions and uncertainty about future basing arrangements.

Sexual abuse allegations against ICC prosecutor Karim Khan have triggered a prolonged institutional crisis involving competing investigations, disagreements over legal standards and geopolitical tensions linked to the court’s Gaza arrest warrants. A UN-led inquiry found evidence supporting the accuser’s claims, while a panel of judges said the material fell short of the criminal standard of proof, leaving key facts unresolved. ICC member-state diplomats have taken an initial step toward determining whether Khan committed misconduct, a process that could eventually lead to a vote on his removal. Supporters argue the allegations are part of a campaign to undermine the prosecutor over the Israel investigation, though no evidence supports this claim. The situation has heightened internal strain and raised concerns about the court’s credibility at a moment of increasing global reliance on international justice.

MI5 and multiple police forces unlawfully obtained communications data from BBC journalist Vincent Kearney over several years in efforts to identify his sources, according to evidence presented to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. Authorities in Northern Ireland and England admitted repeated violations of his rights, including large-scale retrieval of call and text records and the creation of a detailed intelligence profile. Kearney and the BBC argue the surveillance caused lasting harm to his journalist–source relationships. MI5 and police representatives acknowledged unlawful actions but disputed claims of a long-term campaign. The Home Office noted that laws governing data acquisition have since been strengthened, while Kearney seeks damages from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which opposes compensation.

ICE tripled its data stored on Microsoft’s Azure platform as its budget, workforce and enforcement operations expanded, raising concerns about the role of major technology providers in supporting aggressive immigration actions. Leaked documents show increased use of cloud services, AI tools and productivity applications, while Microsoft and other tech companies face internal employee pushback over contracts with immigration agencies. The expansion coincides with heightened political scrutiny following deaths linked to ICE operations and a congressional funding battle.

A private jet owned by Trump associate Gil Dezer was used twice by ICE to deport Palestinian detainees from the US to Israel, where they were transferred to the West Bank under Israeli escort. Records and interviews reveal the flights were part of a discreet policy shift aligned with the Trump administration’s intensified deportation strategy. Deportees described harsh restraints during transit and abrupt release at a West Bank checkpoint. The operation involved Journey Aviation as charter intermediary and raised legal questions for countries where refueling occurred. Families of the deported men, many with long-term US ties, face separation, while US and Israeli authorities declined substantive comment on the program.

A covert intelligence operation allegedly commissioned by a Qatari diplomatic unit targeted the woman who accused ICC prosecutor Karim Khan of sexual abuse, gathering sensitive personal information in an effort to undermine her credibility. British private intelligence firms Highgate and Elicius Intelligence sought passport data, family details, and potential links to Israel, though no such evidence was found. The situation unfolds amid major political tensions following Khan’s pursuit of arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and ongoing UN investigations into misconduct allegations. Qatar denied commissioning the operation, while Khan denies any involvement or wrongdoing.