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| European Arrest Warrant: Judges urge UK support | European Arrest Warrant: Judges urge UK support |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK risks becoming a "safe haven" for foreign criminals if MPs do not back the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) system, senior judges have said. | |
| In a letter to the Daily Telegraph 40 legal figures said voting for the EAW "was a vote for security" and "effective criminal justice". | In a letter to the Daily Telegraph 40 legal figures said voting for the EAW "was a vote for security" and "effective criminal justice". |
| The UK has opted out of all 133 EU justice laws, but ministers want to retain 35, including the EU warrant. | The UK has opted out of all 133 EU justice laws, but ministers want to retain 35, including the EU warrant. |
| A Commons vote on remaining in the EAW will be held on Monday, MPs were told. | A Commons vote on remaining in the EAW will be held on Monday, MPs were told. |
| House of Commons Leader William Hague announced the date as he set out Parliamentary business on Thursday. | House of Commons Leader William Hague announced the date as he set out Parliamentary business on Thursday. |
| The EAW allows police to quickly extradite suspects between EU states. | The EAW allows police to quickly extradite suspects between EU states. |
| The letter - which is signed by Lord Phillips, who served as president of the Supreme Court - said: "There is no credible alternative to the EAW." | The letter - which is signed by Lord Phillips, who served as president of the Supreme Court - said: "There is no credible alternative to the EAW." |
| The UK has to decide by 1 December whether to continue to adhere to the EU criminal justice and law enforcement measures under the terms of the 2009 Lisbon Treaty. | The UK has to decide by 1 December whether to continue to adhere to the EU criminal justice and law enforcement measures under the terms of the 2009 Lisbon Treaty. |
| Liberty 'threatened' | Liberty 'threatened' |
| Some Tory MPs reportedly feel uneasy about the issue, and believe the warrant is a threat to the liberties of Britons and the sovereignty of the UK. | Some Tory MPs reportedly feel uneasy about the issue, and believe the warrant is a threat to the liberties of Britons and the sovereignty of the UK. |
| They argue there are other ways around the extradition issue, which under the EAW means UK suspects are often extradited on spurious grounds, they claim. | They argue there are other ways around the extradition issue, which under the EAW means UK suspects are often extradited on spurious grounds, they claim. |
| But the letter to the newspaper puts forward a different view. | But the letter to the newspaper puts forward a different view. |
| It says: "Britain can only lead reform of Europe's criminal justice co-operation by being part of the system. | It says: "Britain can only lead reform of Europe's criminal justice co-operation by being part of the system. |
| "Britain also risks becoming a safe haven for fugitives from justice, a handful of them British citizens, but the vast majority foreign nationals wanted for crimes elsewhere in Europe." | "Britain also risks becoming a safe haven for fugitives from justice, a handful of them British citizens, but the vast majority foreign nationals wanted for crimes elsewhere in Europe." |
| European Arrest Warrants | European Arrest Warrants |
| Q&A: European Arrest Warrant | Q&A: European Arrest Warrant |
| The letter also references the cases of Hussain Osman, who was convicted after trying to repeat the July 7 terror attacks in London, and Jeremy Forrest, a teacher who was jailed for abducting a schoolgirl. | The letter also references the cases of Hussain Osman, who was convicted after trying to repeat the July 7 terror attacks in London, and Jeremy Forrest, a teacher who was jailed for abducting a schoolgirl. |
| "Without the EAW other EU members may be unable speedily to extradite suspects like Hussain Osman or Jeremy Forrest to Britain - both in jail after use of the EAW. Unsurprisingly, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) believes we cannot afford to lose it," the letter says. | "Without the EAW other EU members may be unable speedily to extradite suspects like Hussain Osman or Jeremy Forrest to Britain - both in jail after use of the EAW. Unsurprisingly, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) believes we cannot afford to lose it," the letter says. |
| Law Society president Andrew Caplen and Sir David Edward, a former European Court of Justice judge, have also signed the letter along with Lord Justice Sir Henry Brooke. | Law Society president Andrew Caplen and Sir David Edward, a former European Court of Justice judge, have also signed the letter along with Lord Justice Sir Henry Brooke. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron - who had promised a vote on the subject before the Rochester and Strood by-election on 20 November - is facing a potential backbench rebellion over the measure, but it is likely to pass with Labour and Lib Dem support. | Prime Minister David Cameron - who had promised a vote on the subject before the Rochester and Strood by-election on 20 November - is facing a potential backbench rebellion over the measure, but it is likely to pass with Labour and Lib Dem support. |