The Daily Telegraph reports:
New powers to block Britons from extradition
New powers to block extradition could be given to ministers to better protect Britons wanted by foreign courts, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
By Tom Whitehead, Andrew Porter and Christopher Hope
Published: 9:57PM BST 06 Sep 2010An independent review of agreements with the US and European nations is to be announced by Theresa May, the Home Secretary.
It follows widespread concern that the current system is biased against Britain and follows cases including that of Gary McKinnon, the alleged hacker wanted by the American authorities.
Under the review, which could be announced as soon as Wednesday, the Home Secretary's hand could be strengthened and foreign authorities could be required to provide more evidence before British courts grant a request. A panel of lawyers and international relations experts, led by a judge, will also examine whether suspects accused of crimes that took place mostly in this country but affected foreign citizens should be tried at home.
[...]
In principle this should be good news for Gary McKinnon and for the other people facing unfair extradition to the USA and to a lesser extent , to the European Union.
However, we wait to see the detail of exactly what is officially announced about this "independent review".
The Hiome Office civil servants and their legal advisors and the Judiciary were also supposed to be "independent", but they have failed to protect United Kingdom sovereignty and the human rights of British citizens caught up in extradition bureacracy.
Will any "new powers" be put in place in time to prevent Gary McKinnon's extradition to the USA ?
John
This is very welcome. Blair, in his desperation to ingratiate himself with the USA, showed total contempt for the people of the UK when signing up to this one-sided treaty. Most governments, for example Russia, regard their own people as the priority and refuse to allow extradition. For Britain to allow it without even considering the evidence, is outrageous.
While McKinnon may have been foolish, there is no reason why he cannot be dealt with under UK law, and the Labour former government pretending that it had no power to stop him being shipped off to a vengeful USA, was a humiliation to Britain. No wonder that Britain is seen as a lapdog state.
Anon
Interesting article on this link
about the ceo of lockheed and 'father' of the stealth fighter bomber apparently admitting before he died that UFO'S are real etc....
Gary is also mentioned in the article...
http://www.ufo-blogger.com/2010/08/ufo-are-real-ben-rich-lockheed-skunk.html
n3td3v
The message is definitely out there, "free gary".
Nick Clegg becoming the deputy PM was the best thing to happen to Gary.
Good luck to him and his mum.
You can listen to an interview with Gary's mum via
http://www.tracsec.com/
All the best,
n3td3v Security
Truth is out there
I'm very sceptical. Even if they reintroduce the evidence test will this prevent judges from standing up for injustice at the hands of the americans.
I have seen first hand when the US alleges serious crimes against someone, and they request extradition how UK courts will do anything to send the requested person. Even when the evidence is from a perjured witness whose was evidence was purchased by a plea deal the UK courts will still surrender.
You can see clear details of this here:
www.usextraditionvictim.co.uk
jay
Only three Americans (interestingly with dual nationality) have been extradited to the U.K.
By far the majority of extraditions in both directions are British citizens.
See Freedom of Information link below:
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B5BPw-qqEV28NDQ1YzhjNDAtM2VhNC00NjczLWEzZDEtMzhhYmIyOTZhOWU2&hl=en
Jay
Baroness Scotland felt the need to assure American Senators that Britain would not be extraditing suspected Irish American IRA terrorists with the new 2003 Treaty.
It seems terrorists are not the target of the U.S or the U.K government.
See Freedom of Information link below.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/freedom-of-information/released-information1/foi-archive-crime/819_extradition_correspondence/8198_Scotland-Senator_Feins1.pdf?view=Binary