PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Extradition (4 January 2022)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that people's civil and political rights are not infringed by the Government's extradition arrangements with other countries.

Asked by:
Fleur Anderson (Labour)

The Extradition Act 2003 is the legislative framework which contains the safeguards and protections available in UK courts to all persons requested for extradition to any overseas jurisdiction.

A requested person will not be extradited if doing so would breach their human rights (including the right to a fair trial) if the request is politically motivated, or if they would be at risk of facing the death penalty. The court can also bar a person’s extradition if, according to a range of factors, including their health, it would not be in the interests of justice for the extradition to take place and can decide that it would be more appropriate to try the case in the UK than in the requesting state.

Additionally, a person cannot be surrendered if extradition would be disproportionate, or if they are likely to face long periods of pre-trial detention. These protections are also enshrined in our new extradition arrangements with the EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Answered by:
Damian Hinds (Conservative)
10 January 2022