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Police demand more powers abroad Low cost flights 'help criminals'
(about 2 hours later)
The head of Merseyside police has called for greater powers to bring so-called 'Costa criminals' to book. Too many organised criminals are using low-cost air fares and relaxed border controls in Europe to evade justice, the head of Merseyside police has said.
Chief Constable Bernard Hogan Howe told the BBC too many criminals are evading British justice by taking advantage of low-cost air fares to Europe. Chief Constable Bernard Hogan Howe called for greater powers to extradite suspects for questioning.
He says cheap travel and relaxed border controls have made it easy for crime gangs to move around the world. At present, European arrest warrants can only be used once police have enough evidence to charge a suspect.
He wants a change in the law so that suspected criminals can be extradited to the UK for questioning. It was unacceptable that someone could just travel to another European country and be "safe", he told the BBC.
International organised crime costs the UK £20bn a year, the Home Office estimates.
Mr Hogan Howe is calling for a change in the rules governing extradition.
Safe havenSafe haven
Currently, European arrest warrants require evidence for a suspect overseas to be charged and sent back to the UK. European arrest warrants, introduced in 2004, have reduced the time it takes for criminals to be extradited - but they can only be used once the police have enough evidence for the suspect to be charged.
Mr Hogan Howe said: "I don't think it's acceptable that someone can just travel to another country within Europe and... they are safe. Mr Hogan Howe said he was concerned that a significant amount of crime was being committed by "second division" criminals who were benefiting from low-cost travel and relaxed border controls in Europe.
"They can spend a small amount on a low-cost airline and they are away and out of our grasp and they may be arranging drug supplies. We need to be able to be as flexible as they are." Mr Hogan Howe was speaking at a conference on organised crime
Instead, the chief constable wants "extradition warrants for interview" - the power to interview a suspect abroad by going to court for a warrant. "Quite often now criminals are not that organised - but they can spend a small amount on a low-cost airline and they are away and out of our grasp, and they may be arranging drug supplies.
More surveillance "We need to be able to be as flexible as they are," he said.
He said it would allow suspects to rule themselves out of an inquiry. Speaking recently at a conference on organised crime, the chief constable said he wanted "extradition warrants for interview" - the power to interview a suspect abroad by going to court for a warrant.
He also said covert officers should have greater ability to conduct surveillance and pursue suspects across borders. 'Step too far'
It would also allow suspects to rule themselves out of an inquiry, he said.
He added that covert officers should have greater ability to conduct surveillance and pursue suspects across borders.
"Too many people are getting away with too much crime", said Mr Hogan Howe."Too many people are getting away with too much crime", said Mr Hogan Howe.
But speaking on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on European justice, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, said Mr Hogan Howe's proposals risked being a "step too far".
She said more safeguards would be needed to protect civil liberties and human rights, adding that police should be using existing methods of legal assistance and co-operation across borders between police forces.
She said extending the European arrest warrant too far could "risk becoming a lazy option" for police forces.
In January, police named 10 suspected British criminals thought to be living in Spain.In January, police named 10 suspected British criminals thought to be living in Spain.
A joint operation between Crimestoppers, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Spanish police, known as Operation Captura, has already resulted in the capture of eight criminals since October 2006.A joint operation between Crimestoppers, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and Spanish police, known as Operation Captura, has already resulted in the capture of eight criminals since October 2006.