Schedule 12 - Extradition
Police and Justice Bill
12:15 pm
Nick Herbert (Shadow Minister (Police Reform), Home Affairs; Arundel and South Downs, Conservative)
I do not know whether that is the case. The hon. Gentleman may be correct, but the point is that there is no sign of the vote on the treaty even being held. The treaty has nevertheless been applied unilaterally by our own Government. As a consequence, since December 2003, extradition requests made by the United States have not had to be accompanied by prima facie evidence that there is a case to be tried. Instead, the United States authorities merely have to supply the facts of the charge along with appropriate identification information. By contrast, the United Kingdom has to provide evidence of probable cause when making extradition requests of the USA. There lies the fundamental imbalance.