BRITONS ARRESTED ABROAD WILL LOSE THE RIGHT TO A TRANSLATOR

THE TELEGRAPH - BRUNO WATERFIELD

Britons arrested in Europe will not have the right to demand a full translation of the charges they are facing, under proposals supported by the government.

Britain has backed plans to "dilute" the rights of its citizens when extradited or caught up in criminal proceedings in other European countries.

Catherine Heard, Policy Officer at Fair Trials International, said: "Under Europe's fast-track extradition system, we are expected to send our citizens across Europe to face trial without asking too many questions.

"As things stand, there is no guarantee that they will be treated fairly and our cases at FTI demonstrate that many aren't. Until reforms are introduced giving suspects basic rights like access to a lawyer and an interpreter, we will see many more cases of injustice."