UK ‘would face risk over arrest warrants’

The UK would face an “unacceptable risk” if the government did not have European Arrest Warrant arrangements in place to coincide with Brexit, a Lords report has said. The Lords EU home affairs sub-committee warned against allowing any operational gap to occur involving extradition procedures after Britain’s planned withdrawal from the bloc in March 2019.

Peers said that it “does not seem at all clear” how Britain could remain part of the present warrant system because it is overseen by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) which the Government insists should have no jurisdiction over UK matters after Brexit.

The report expresses concern that a “cliff-edge” situation could occur, stating that an “operational gap between the European Arrest Warrant ceasing to apply and a suitable replacement coming into force would pose an unacceptable risk.”

The study said Britain could follow the examples of Norway and Iceland and seek a bilateral extradition agreement with the EU that broadly mirrors the current warrant system and contains provisions for a political dispute resolution mechanism.