British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy announced in parliament on Tuesday that he is confronting the United States government over a contentious court martial involving an American fighter pilot who assaulted a woman in Cambridge.
The pilot, Captain Jacob Wulfson, avoided a standard trial under English law despite committing the domestic crime while off duty outside of his base, as reported by The Guardian.
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Local police transferred the investigation to the US military.
Lammy, who also serves as the justice secretary, stated that officials across multiple British government departments are thoroughly reviewing the jurisdictional dispute.
Downing Street previously described the incident involving academic Sarah Steele as deeply distressing.
During the parliamentary session, lawmakers questioned the current legal frameworks that allow foreign military personnel stationed at locations like RAF Lakenheath to circumvent local criminal courts.
"Victims of crimes on English soil should see justice served in our justice system," said Jess Brown-Fuller, Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson.
The government responded by emphasizing its national objective to significantly reduce domestic abuse and violence against women over the next decade.
"Halving violence against women and girls is a decade mission for this government," said David Lammy.
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Government officials are currently coordinating across agencies to address the legal anomalies presented by the case.
"This case is extremely concerning, and our thoughts, of course, are with the victim, Sarah, but given the cross-agency nature of this case, my officials are working across government and we’re raising this case with the US government to establish the full facts," said Lammy.
