EXTRADITION REVIEW BACKS REFORM TO EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT

Edmond Arapi, whose extradition was sought for a crime he could not possibly have committed

The 18th October saw the publication of the long-awaited Sir Scott Baker report on the UK's extradition arrangements. While supporting existing extradition arrangements with the United States, the review has echoed our own calls for reform to the UK's extradition arrangements with the rest of Europe. Recommendations include:

• The need to stop extradition for minor crimes, if necessary by changing the European framework decision that created the Warrant;
   
• More flexibility in timeframes for appeals and steps to ensure that people have effective legal representation;
   
• An end to "means-testing" for legal aid entitlement;
   
• Stopping extradition of British residents who could serve short sentences closer to home;
   
• The need for continued work at EU level to improve fair trial rights and stop unnecessary pre-trial detention; and
   
• A power to defer extradition where the country requesting it is not trial ready. 

See here for our detailed briefing on the review's EAW recommendations.

Fair Trials International has long campaigned for important reforms to be made to the European Arrest Warrant which, in 2010, led to the extradition of over 1,000 people from the UK alone. We have highlighted many cases of injustice caused by a lack of basic safeguards in this fast-track system and gave detailed written and oral evidence to the inquiry. We welcome the Review’s findings and now urge the UK Government to act on them urgently to build a fairer system of extradition within Europe.

Thank you to all of our clients whose stories have helped us make the case for reform.