How PM gave courts the final say

LEGAL changes were introduced by then-home secretary Theresa May to prevent a repeat of the case of accused computer hacker Gary McKinnon.

The so-called Forum Bar allows courts to refuse extradition in cases where a substantial amount of the alleged crime took place in Britain.

Lauri Love allegedly committed his crimes in his parents’ home in Suffolk.

Before the Forum Bar was introduced in 2013, the home secretary had discretion to refuse extradition on various grounds, including human rights. Mrs May used this in the case of Mr McKinnon, whose alleged crimes also took place in Britain. But since then the power has transferred to the courts.

Mr Love’s lawyers are appealing his extradition on the grounds that the judge did not apply the Bar in his case – its first substantive test.

To use the Forum Bar, a judge must consider factors such as where the most harm was committed, where the evidence, witnesses and victims are located and the accused person’s connections to the UK.