FURTHER to my letter, printed August 6 (Oxford Mail, View Points), and Michael Clarke’s letter shortly afterwards, European Arrest Warrants have replaced traditional extradition arrangements between member states of the EU.
Any person in any EU member state, unless protected by immunity, may be arrested on an EAW and surrendered to the EU member state, where the warrant has been issued.
Once an EAW is issued it must be executed ‘as a matter of urgency’ by the courts.
Unlike the extradition request, the warrant does not have to provide ‘prima facie’ evidence of the alleged crime.
It is sufficient merely to outline the allegation in just a few words.
English and Scottish courts have no right to look into the substance of the case.
The role of our courts is just to look at the form to see it has been correctly completed.
Many of you, aware of our constitutional history including ‘habeas corpus’, may think that their basic freedoms are still protected under EAW.
Well, they are wrong. Our most basic freedoms are being undermined and eroded by the creation of an EU system of criminal law – corpus juris.
JOHN MADEN, secretary, UKIP Oxford, Montagu Road, Oxford
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