The International Cooperation and Extradition Scoping Review published
The International Co-operation & Extradition Scoping Review has been published. The project was led by Gemma Davies, Associate Professor at Durham University, on behalf of the Criminal Law Reform Now Network (CLRNN), commissioned by the Law Commission of England and Wales.
The research has explored whether the UK’s legal frameworks for extradition, mutual legal assistance, and criminal jurisdiction remain fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world of cross-border crime, digital evidence, and post-Brexit legal uncertainty.
The report makes the case for urgent reform, including:
- Modernising the Extradition Act 2003, especially around assurances, dual criminality, forum bar, the role of the CPS and the relationship with asylum
- Overhauling the mutual legal assistance process to make it faster and more transparent
- Clarifying and codifying rules on criminal jurisdiction – including the UK’s approach to prosecuting international crimes.
The report is now with the Law Commission who will decide in consultation with ministers whether to take this forward as a reform project.
Professor Penney Lewis, Commissioner for Criminal Law has said:
“This is a serious, thorough and most importantly useful piece of work which will help to set the terms of the debate for law reform in this area. The review has opened up discussion within and outside government and provides a strong rationale for pursuing law reform.”
Contributors on the publication include: Ben Keith, Paul Arnell, Rosemary Davidson, Javier S. Eskauriatza, Matthew Garrod, Estelle Marks, Rebecca Niblock, Micheál Ó Floinn, Jessica Shurson, and Nick Vamos. Reviewers on the publication include: Anand Doobay, Edward Grange, Stefan Hyman.
CLRNN committee – John Child, Jonathan Rogers, Paul Jarvis KC, Melissa Bone, Stephen Wooler CB, Laura Noszlopy, and Sandra Paul
The report is now available here.
Ben Keith is a leading barrister specialising in cross-border and international cases. He deals with all aspects of Extradition, Human Rights, Mutual Legal Assistance, Interpol, Financial crime and International Law including sanctions. He represents governments, political and military leaders, High Net Worth individuals, human rights defenders and business leaders in the most sensitive cases.
