UK Home Secretary to compromise citizens' rights

[BillyTK]

This one that seems to have slipped through the media net (apart from famous leftist propagandists The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,927762,00.html) and BBC2's Newsnight); Home Secretary David Blunkett has agreed a new extradition treaty (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/n_story.asp?item_id=436) with the US which removes the requirement for prima facie evidence to be presented before court for extradition to be granted. The UK will, however, reserve the right to withold individuals in cases where the death penalty might be incurred. Phew!

Under the new treaty, US law enforcement agencies only have to supply background details of the case and the names of the people they wish to extradite. Understandably, the US is not providing a reciprocal arrangement. This new treaty is being piggy-backed on the amended 1989 Extradition Act which deals mainly with extradition procedures with the EU and is currently before Parliament.

[Jon_in_london]

Disgusting.

Basically what this means is that someone in the US could say "we want jon_in_london for a kidnapping and rape and leaving the toilet seat up offence" and thats it! away I go! I couldnt even protest that Id never even been to the US :mad:

[BillyTK]

Originally posted by Jon_in_london
Disgusting.

Basically what this means is that someone in the US could say "we want jon_in_london for a kidnapping and rape and leaving the toilet seat up offence" and thats it! away I go! I couldnt even protest that Id never even been to the US :mad:

I need to find some sources, but basically there was a British man wanted by the FBI on quite serious fraud charges. It turned out that he shared the same name with the real suspect. Under the new treaty, he'd've been extradited.

PS The treaty is retrospective.