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European Arrest Warrant: Judges urge UK support European Arrest Warrant: Parliamentary vote announced
(about 1 hour 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. MPs will vote on Monday on whether the UK should continue using the European Arrest Warrant.
In a letter to the Daily Telegraph 40 legal figures said voting for the EAW "was a vote for security" and "effective criminal justice". Commons Leader William Hague announced the debate on opting into 35 EU justice measures - including the EAW - that the government wants to retain.
The UK has opted out of all 133 EU justice laws, but ministers want to retain 35, including the EU warrant. Prime Minister David Cameron is likely to face a backbench rebellion but the measure is expected to pass with Labour and Lib Dem backing.
A Commons vote on remaining in the EAW will be held on Monday, MPs were told. It came as senior judges said voting for the EAW "was a vote for security".
House of Commons Leader William Hague announced the date as he set out Parliamentary business on Thursday. 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.
The EAW allows police to quickly extradite suspects between EU states. The UK has opted out of all 133, but ministers want to retain 35, including the European Arrest Warrant, which allows police to extradite suspects quickly between EU states.
Mr Hague confirmed the full-day debate would take place before a Parliamentary committee had agreed the draft proposals, saying this was "unusual" but "not unprecedented".
But Labour's Angela Eagle suggested it was being rushed through because the government was "desperate to get the vote out of the way" because it was worried about a backbench revolt.
Some Conservative MPs feel uneasy about the arrest warrant which they see as a threat to the liberties of Britons and the sovereignty of the UK.
They say UK suspects are often extradited on spurious grounds.
'Safe haven'
But a letter from 40 senior legal figures to the Daily Telegraph says the UK risks becoming a "safe haven" for foreign criminals, if MPs do not back the arrest warrant.
European Arrest Warrants
Q&A: European Arrest Warrant
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.
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.
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.
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
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.