EXTRADITION REVIEW TO CONSIDER IF TREATY ‘UNBALANCED’

THE INDEPENDENT

The Government's review of extradition arrangements will consider whether the treaty between the United States and the UK is "unbalanced", Home Secretary Theresa May said today.

Fair Trials International said that, by focusing mainly on the US with only a limited reference to Europe, the Government's review "might not get to the heart of the problem".

Jago Russell, chief executive of Fair Trials International, said: "Every day, three people are extradited under Europe's no-questions-asked extradition system and the cases of injustice are mounting.

"This review, though welcome, will only produce a fairer system of extradition if it gets to grips with the problems caused by the European Arrest Warrant and if vital new safeguards are put in place."

The UK "must go much further than just looking at how it has implemented 'optional safeguards' contained in the European legislation", the campaign group said.