Captain David Mockett

Opened the debate

The MP expressed deep sadness over the recent tragic killings in Plymouth and thanked the Government for their support of the people affected by these incidents. He introduced a case of injustice suffered by his constituents, the Mockett family, whose husband and father, Captain David Mockett, was killed in Yemen in 2011 without proper investigation from British authorities. Streeter outlined three sections: background, attempts to seek justice, and steps for achieving closure. The background involved a suspected insurance fraud related to an oil tanker's hijacking, leading to Mockett’s murder upon uncovering the truth. Despite multiple investigations, no progress was made due to jurisdictional issues and lack of action from British authorities, leaving the family frustrated and seeking justice.

Government Response

The Minister expressed sympathy for the Mockett family and acknowledged the tragic circumstances. He explained that the Metropolitan police counter-terrorism command supported the Yemeni authorities, conducting a scoping exercise to assist the UK coroner. The minister noted the operational independence of the police and NCA, stating that Ministers do not have powers to direct investigations or prosecutions. While he could not agree to open an investigation, Hinds confirmed that the case has been drawn to the attention of Her Majesty’s ambassador to Yemen for representation to the Yemeni government and offered to meet with Streeter to discuss further actions.