European countries will not guarantee extradition to UK

TWENTY European Union states are refusing to guarantee that suspected criminals who are citizens of their country can be extradited to the UK.

Ten EU countries have declined point black to allow such extraditions; two will do so only if the suspected criminal agrees; and eight have attached other restrictions.

Only the remaining seven EU member states broadly agree to reciprocity with the UK: Belgium, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Malta.

The development emerged in recently released documents from Brussels and reflects the fact that Brexit means the UK is no longer part of the European Arrest Warrant.

The current set-up potentially undercuts the ability for Europeans who are suspected of committing crimes in the

UK to be returned to face justice after fleeing to the Continent.

Lawyers have warned it could also artificially keep prison populations high as judges may be reluctant to grant bail over fears of European suspects leaving the country and not returning.

Under the European Arrest Warrant suspected criminals could be extradited easily within the bloc. But with Britain now out of the EU, individual member states can decide their position. An imbalance exists, given the UK’S willingness to extradite Britons suspected of committing crimes in EU countries.

A Home Office spokesman said: “It is the UK’S long-standing policy not to distinguish between UK nationals and others in extradition proceedings.”

However, some EU states have longheld constitutional bars against the extradition of their own nationals to non-eu countries.