Extradition Act 2003
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 2003 c. 41 |
Extradition Act 2003
2003 CHAPTER 41
An Act to make provision about extradition.
[20th November 2003]
B e it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Part 1
Extradition to category 1 territories
Introduction
1 Extradition to category 1 territories
(1) This Part deals with extradition from the United Kingdom to the territories designated for the purposes of this Part by order made by the Secretary of State.
(2) In this Act references to category 1 territories are to the territories designated for the purposes of this Part.
(3) A territory may not be designated for the purposes of this Part if a person found guilty in the territory of a criminal offence may be sentenced to death for the offence under the general criminal law of the territory.
2 Part 1 warrant and certificate
(1) This section applies if the designated authority receives a Part 1 warrant in respect of a person.
(2) A Part 1 warrant is an arrest warrant which is issued by a judicial authority of a category 1 territory and which contains—
(a) the statement referred to in subsection (3) and the information referred to in subsection (4), or
(b) the statement referred to in subsection (5) and the information referred to in subsection (6).
(3) The statement is one that—
(a) the person in respect of whom the Part 1 warrant is issued is accused in the category 1 territory of the commission of an offence specified in the warrant, and
(b) the Part 1 warrant is issued with a view to his arrest and extradition to the category 1 territory for the purpose of being prosecuted for the offence.
(4) The information is—
(a) particulars of the person's identity;
(b) particulars of any other warrant issued in the category 1 territory for the person's arrest in respect of the offence;
(c) particulars of the circumstances in which the person is alleged to have committed the offence, including the conduct alleged to constitute the offence, the time and place at which he is alleged to have committed the offence and any provision of the law of the category 1 territory under which the conduct is alleged to constitute an offence;
(d) particulars of the sentence which may be imposed under the law of the category 1 territory in respect of the offence if the person is convicted of it.
(5) The statement is one that—
(a) the person in respect of whom the Part 1 warrant is issued is alleged to be unlawfully at large after conviction of an offence specified in the warrant by a court in the category 1 territory, and
(b) the Part 1 warrant is issued with a view to his arrest and extradition to the category 1 territory for the purpose of being sentenced for the offence or of serving a sentence of imprisonment or another form of detention imposed in respect of the offence.
(6) The information is—
(a) particulars of the person's identity;
(b) particulars of the conviction;
(c) particulars of any other warrant issued in the category 1 territory for the person's arrest in respect of the offence;
(d) particulars of the sentence which may be imposed under the law of the category 1 territory in respect of the offence, if the person has not been sentenced for the offence;
(e) particulars of the sentence which has been imposed under the law of the category 1 territory in respect of the offence, if the person has been sentenced for the offence.
(7) The designated authority may issue a certificate under this section if it believes that the authority which issued the Part 1 warrant has the function of issuing arrest warrants in the category 1 territory.
(8) A certificate under this section must certify that the authority which issued the Part 1 warrant has the function of issuing arrest warrants in the category 1 territory.
(9) The designated authority is the authority designated for the purposes of this Part by order made by the Secretary of State.
(10) An order made under subsection (9) may—
(a) designate more than one authority;
(b) designate different authorities for different parts of the United Kingdom.
Arrest
3 Arrest under certified Part 1 warrant
(1) This section applies if a certificate is issued under section 2 in respect of a Part 1 warrant issued in respect of a person.
(2) The warrant may be executed by a constable or a customs officer in any part of the United Kingdom.
(3) The warrant may be executed by a service policeman, but only if the service policeman would have power to arrest the person under the appropriate service law if the person had committed an offence under that law.
(4) If a service policeman has power to execute the warrant under subsection (3), he may execute the warrant in any place where he would have power to arrest the person under the appropriate service law if the person had committed an offence under that law.
(5) The warrant may be executed even if neither the warrant nor a copy of it is in the possession of the person executing it at the time of the arrest.
(6) The appropriate service law is—
(a) the Army Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2 c. 18), if the person in respect of whom the warrant is issued is subject to military law;
(b) the Air Force Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2 c. 19), if that person is subject to air-force law;
(c) the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), if that person is subject to that Act.
4 Person arrested under Part 1 warrant
(1) This section applies if a person is arrested under a Part 1 warrant.
(2) A copy of the warrant must be given to the person as soon as practicable after his arrest.
(3) The person must be brought as soon as practicable before the appropriate judge.
(4) If subsection (2) is not complied with and the person applies to the judge to be discharged, the judge may order his discharge.
(5) If subsection (3) is not complied with and the person applies to the judge to be discharged, the judge must order his discharge.
(6) A person arrested under the warrant must be treated as continuing in legal custody until he is brought before the appropriate judge under subsection (3) or he is discharged under subsection (4) or (5).
5 Provisional arrest
(1) A constable, a customs officer or a service policeman may arrest a person without a warrant if he has reasonable grounds for believing—
(a) that a Part 1 warrant has been or will be issued in respect of the person by an authority of a category 1 territory, and
(b) that the authority has the function of issuing arrest warrants in the category 1 territory.
(2) A constable or a customs officer may arrest a person under subsection (1) in any part of the United Kingdom.
(3) A service policeman may arrest a person under subsection (1) only if the service policeman would have power to arrest the person under the appropriate service law if the person had committed an offence under that law.
(4) If a service policeman has power to arrest a person under subsection (1), the service policeman may exercise the power in any place where he would have power to arrest the person for an offence under the appropriate service law if the person had committed an offence under that law.
(5) The appropriate service law is—
(a) the Army Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2 c. 18), if the person to be arrested is subject to military law;
(b) the Air Force Act 1955 (3 & 4 Eliz. 2 c. 19), if that person is subject to air-force law;
(c) the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), if that person is subject to that Act.
6 Person arrested under section 5
(1) This section applies if a person is arrested under section 5.
(2) The following must occur within the required period—
(a) the person must be brought before the appropriate judge;
(b) the documents specified in subsection (4) must be produced to the judge.
(3) The required period is 48 hours starting with the time when the person is arrested.
(4) The documents are—
(a) a Part 1 warrant in respect of the person;
(b) a certificate under section 2 in respect of the warrant.
(5) A copy of the warrant must be given to the person as soon as practicable after his arrest.
(6) If subsection (2) is not complied with and the person applies to the judge to be discharged, the judge must order his discharge.
(7) If subsection (5) is not complied with and the person applies to the judge to be...
To continue reading
Request your trial