1. 6 updates

UK-US extradition overhaul urged

Vital extradition arrangements between the UK and the US are being threatened by the loss of public confidence among Britons, MPs said today.

Live updates

US Ambassador: Extradition treaty 'wrongly condemned'

The US Ambassador to the UK strongly defended the extradition treaty in a statement to the committee, saying it was fair, balanced and "promotes the interests of justice in both our countries".

Our extradition treaty continues to be widely and wrongly condemned by some in Parliament and in sections of the British media.

The constant use of skewed arguments and wilful distortion of the facts by some to advance their own agendas remains of great concern to the United States."

– Louis B Susman, US Ambassador to the UK

Cameron recognises treaty 'concerns'

David Cameron met US President Barack Obama earlier this month Credit: REUTERS/Gary Cameron

Speaking on a visit to the US earlier this month, Prime Minister David Cameron raised the issue of the extradition treaty with President Barack Obama.

"We will be following this up with further talks between our teams," Mr Cameron said.

"I recognise that there are concerns about how it is implemented in practice and that's what our teams will look at."

Advertisement

Vaz: Extradition treaty is 'unbalanced'

The treaty is unbalanced, making it easier to extradite a British citizen to the USA than vice versa. The cases of Gary McKinnon, Richard O'Dwyer and Christopher Tappin have highlighted public concern that these arrangements are one-sided.

Prosecutors must be required to produce evidence in support of an extradition request and the accused should have the right to challenge that evidence in court

British citizens should also be given the opportunity to face trial in the UK. This would save both time and money."

– Keith Vaz, Commons Home Affairs Select Committee chairman

Report: Government 'need to restore public faith' in extradition treaty

The committee is proposing significant changes to the extradition arrangements between the US and the UK not because we are critical of the American justice system but because we recognise the importance of robust extradition arrangements between our two countries.

Such extradition arrangements are now threatened by loss of public confidence in the UK and there is a risk that, with time, that lack of confidence will translate into wider disaffection.

We believe that the Government should act now to restore public faith in the treaty."

– Commons Home Affairs Select Committee report

Famous UK to US extradition cases

  • Gary McKinnon, the 46-year-old Asperger's sufferer, hacked into computer systems at the Pentagon and has been fighting extradition for almost a decade.
  • Christopher Tappin, the 65-year-old businessman, was extradited over allegations of breaching sanctions to sell missile batteries to Iran. He denies the charge.
  • Richard O'Dwyer, 23-year-old student at Sheffield Hallam, is set to be extradited to the US for running a website that provided links to free films and television shows.

UK and US extradition treaty overhaul urged

Vital extradition arrangements between the UK and the US are being threatened by the loss of public confidence among Britons, MPs said today.

There is a risk that the lack of confidence, fuelled by concerns over a series of high-profile cases, "will translate into wider disaffection", the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee warned.

It called for an overhaul of the controversial 2003 treaty which governs arrangements, saying judges should decide where cases are heard, an initial test of someone's guilt should be considered, and the treaty's text should be changed to ensure it is balanced.

Advertisement

Back to top