The select committee for home affairs released their report on US/UK extradition in March 2012
The House of Commons Home Affairs Committee is recommending major amendments to the 2003 US-UK Extradition Treaty.
"The Treaty is unbalanced, making it easier to extradite a British citizen to the USA than vice versa. The USA remains one of our most important partners in the fight against international terrorism and organised crime. Extradition is a significant weapon in that fight. However, the cases of Gary McKinnon, Richard O'Dwyer and Christopher Tappin have highlighted public concern that these arrangements are one-sided. Prosecutors must be required to produce evidence in support of an extradition request and the accused should have the right to challenge that evidence in court."
"British citizens should also be given the opportunity to face trial in the UK. This would save both time and money.It has now been two and half years since the Prime Minister said the Extradition Act should be reviewed and five months since Scott Baker produced his report. Evidence to the Committee has shown that the current arrangements do not protect the rights of British citizens. The Government must remedy this immediately"
- Rt. Hon Keith Vaz MP, Chair of the Committee
THE SELECT COMMITTEE FOR HOME AFFAIRS REACHED THEIR CONCLUSIONS AFTER MANY EVIDENCIAL SESSIONS WITH JUDGES, HOME SECRETARIES, ATTORNEY GENERALS, VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES
below is one of the sessions:- Giving evidence are David Blunket former Home Secretary who signed the US/UK Extradition Treaty, Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, Jago Russell CE of Fair Trials International and Janis Sharp, Gary McKinnon's Mum. Following Wikileaks revelation that Gordon Brown had asked US Ambasador for concessions over Gary McKinnon to no avail
- David blunket from 11:04 - 11:28
- Shami and Jago from 11:28 - 12:00
- Janis Sharp from 12:00 - 12:18
- interval and other matters from 12:18 onwards
|