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Extradition Act 2003

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

Please note:

All reference to 'Parts' and 'sections' are from the Extradition Act 2003. For other versions of these Explanatory Notes, see More Resources.

  1. Introduction

  2. Summary

  3. Background

  4. The Act

  5. Territorial Application: Wales

    1. Part 1

      Extradition to Category 1 Territories

      1. Section 1: Extradition to category 1 territories

      2. Section 2: Part 1 warrant and certificate

      3. Section 3: Arrest under certified Part 1 Warrant

      4. Section 4: Person arrested under Part 1 warrant

      5. Section 5: Provisional arrest

      6. Section 6: Person arrested under section 5

      7. Section 7: Identity of person arrested

      8. Section 8: Remand

      9. Section 9: Judge’s powers at extradition hearing

      10. Section 10: Initial stage of extradition hearing

      11. Section 11: Bars to extradition

      12. Section 12: Rule against double jeopardy

      13. Section 13: Extraneous considerations

      14. Section 14: Passage of time

      15. Section 15: Age

      16. Section 16: Hostage-taking considerations

      17. Section 17: Speciality

      18. Section 18: Earlier extradition to United Kingdom from category 1 territory

      19. Section 19: Earlier extradition to United Kingdom from non-category 1 territory

      20. Section 20: Case where person has been convicted

      21. Section 21: Human rights

      22. Section 22: Person charged with offence in United Kingdom

      23. Section 23: Person serving sentence in United Kingdom

      24. Section 24: Extradition request

      25. Section 25: Physical or mental condition

      26. Section 26: Appeal against extradition order

      27. Section 27: Court’s powers on appeal under section 26

      28. Section 28: Appeal against discharge at extradition hearing

      29. Section 29: Court’s powers on appeal under section 28

      30. Section 30: Detention pending conclusion of appeal under section 28

      31. Section 31: Appeal to High Court: time limit for start of hearing

      32. Section 32: Appeal to House of Lords

      33. Section 33: Powers of House of Lords on appeal under section 32

      34. Section 34: Appeals: general

      35. Section 35: Extradition where no appeal

      36. Section 36: Extradition following appeal

      37. Section 37: Undertaking in relation to person serving sentence in United Kingdom

      38. Section 38: Extradition following deferral for competing claim

      39. Section 39: Position where asylum claimed

      40. Section 40: Certificate in respect of asylum claimant

      41. Section 41: Withdrawal of warrant before extradition

      42. Section 42: Withdrawal of warrant while appeal to High Court pending

      43. Section 43: Withdrawal of warrant while appeal to House of Lords pending

      44. Section 44: Competing Part 1 warrants

      45. Section 45: Consent to extradition

      46. Section 46: Extradition order following consent

      47. Section 47: Extradition to category 1 territory following consent

      48. Section 48: Other warrant issued following consent

      49. Section 49: Other warrant issued: extradition to category 1 territory

      50. Section 50: Other warrant issued: proceedings deferred

      51. Section 51: Extradition request following consent

      52. Section 52: Undertaking in relation to person serving sentence

      53. Section 53: Extradition following deferral for competing claim

      54. Section 54: Request for consent to other offence being dealt with

      55. Section 55: Questions for decision at consent hearing

      56. Section 56: Request for consent to further extradition to category 1 territory

      57. Section 57: Questions for decision at consent hearing

      58. Section 58: Consent to further extradition to category 2 territory

      59. Section 59: Return of person to serve remainder of sentence

      60. Section 60: Costs where extradition ordered

      61. Section 61: Costs where discharge ordered

      62. Section 62: Costs where discharge ordered: supplementary

      63. Section 63: Persons serving sentences outside territory where convicted

      64. Section 64: Extradition offences: person not sentenced for offence

      65. Section 65: Extradition offences: person sentenced for offence

      66. Section 66: Extradition offences: supplementary

      67. Section 67: The appropriate judge

      68. Section 68: Other interpretative provisions

    2. Part 2

      Extradition to Category 2 Territories

      1. Section 69: Extradition to category 2 territories

      2. Section 70: Extradition request and certificate

      3. Section 71: Arrest warrant following extradition request

      4. Section 72: Person arrested under section 71

      5. Section 73: Provisional warrant

      6. Section 74: Person arrested under provisional warrant

      7. Section 75: Date of extradition hearing: arrest under section 71

      8. Section 76: Date of extradition hearing: arrest under provisional warrant

      9. Section 77: Judge’s powers at extradition hearing

      10. Section 78: Initial stages of extradition hearing

      11. Section 79: Bars to extradition

      12. Section 80: Rule against double jeopardy

      13. Section 81: Extraneous considerations

      14. Section 82: Passage of time

      15. Section 83 Hostage-taking considerations

      16. Section 84: Case where person has not been convicted

      17. Section 85: Case where person has been convicted

      18. Section 86: Conviction in person’s absence

      19. Section 87: Human rights

      20. Section 88: Person charged with offence in United Kingdom

      21. Section 89: Person serving sentence in United Kingdom

      22. Section 90: Competing extradition claim

      23. Section 91: Physical or mental condition

      24. Section 92: Case sent to Secretary of State

      25. Section 93: Secretary of State’s consideration of case

      26. Section 94: Death penalty

      27. Section 95: Speciality

      28. Section 96: Earlier extradition to United Kingdom from other territory

      29. Section 97: Deferral: person charged with offence in United Kingdom

      30. Section 98: Deferral: person serving sentence in United Kingdom

      31. Section 99: Time limit for order for extradition or discharge

      32. Section 100: Information

      33. Section 101: Making of order for extradition or discharge

      34. Section 102: The appropriate day

      35. Section 103: Appeal where case sent to Secretary of State

      36. Section 104: Court’s powers on appeal under section 103

      37. Section 105: Appeal against discharge at extradition hearing

      38. Section 106: Court’s powers on appeal under section 105

      39. Section 107: Detention pending conclusion of appeal under section 105

      40. Section 108: Appeal against extradition order

      41. Section 109: Court’s powers on appeal under section 108

      42. Section 110: Appeal against discharge by Secretary of State

      43. Section 111: Court’s powers on appeal under section 110

      44. Section 112: Detention pending conclusion of appeal under section 110

      45. Section 113: Appeal to High Court: time limit for start of hearing

      46. Section 114: Appeal to House of Lords

      47. Section 115: Powers of House of Lords on appeal under section 114

      48. Section 116: Appeals: general

      49. Section 117: Extradition where no appeal

      50. Section 118: Extradition following appeal

      51. Section 119: Undertaking in relation to person serving sentence in United Kingdom

      52. Section 120: Extradition following deferral for competing claim

      53. Section 121: Position where asylum claimed

      54. Section 122: Withdrawal of request before end of extradition hearing

      55. Section 123: Withdrawal of request after case sent to Secretary of State

      56. Section 124: Withdrawal of request while appeal to High Court pending

      57. Section 125: Withdrawal of request while appeal to House of Lords pending

      58. Section 126: Competing extradition requests

      59. Section 127: Consent to extradition: general

      60. Section 128: Consent to extradition before case sent to Secretary of State

      61. Section 129: Consent to other offence being dealt with

      62. Section 130: Consent to further extradition to category 2 territory

      63. Section 131: Consent to further extradition to category 1 territory

      64. Section 132: Return of person to serve remainder of sentence

      65. Section 133: Costs where extradition ordered

      66. Section 134: Costs where discharge ordered

      67. Section 135: Costs where discharge ordered: supplementary

      68. Section 136: Persons serving sentences outside territory where convicted

      69. Section 137: Extradition offences: person not sentenced for offence

      70. Section 138: Extradition offences: person sentenced for offence

      71. Section 139: The appropriate judge

      72. Section 140: The extradition hearing

      73. Section 141: Scotland: references to Secretary of State

    3. Part 3

      Extradition to the United Kingdom

      1. Section 142: Issue of Part 3 warrant

      2. Section 143: Undertaking in relation to person serving sentence

      3. Section 144: Return to extraditing territory to serve sentence

      4. Section 145: Service of sentence in territory executing Part 3 warrant

      5. Section 146: Dealing with person for other offences

      6. Section 147: Effect of consent to extradition to the United Kingdom

      7. Section 148: Extradition offences

      8. Section 149: The appropriate judge

      9. Section 150: Dealing with person for other offences: Commonwealth countries

      10. Section 151: Dealing with person for other offences: other category 2 territories

      11. Section 152: Remission of punishment for other offences

      12. Section 153: Return of person acquitted or not tried

      13. Section 154: Restrictions on bail where undertaking given by Secretary of State

      14. Section 155: Service personnel

    4. Part 4

      Police Powers

      1. Section 156: Search and seizure warrants

      2. Section 157: Production orders

      3. Section 158: Requirements for making of production order

      4. Section 159: Computer information

      5. Section 160: Warrants: special procedure material and excluded material

      6. Section 161: Entry and search of premises for purposes of arrest

      7. Section 162: Entry and search of premises on arrest

      8. Section 163: Search of person on arrest

      9. Section 164: Entry and search of premises after arrest

      10. Section 165: Additional seizure powers

      11. Section 166: Fingerprints and samples

      12. Section 167: Searches and examination

      13. Section 168: Photographs

      14. Section 169: Evidence of identity: England and Wales

      15. Section 170: Evidence of identity: Northern Ireland

      16. Section 171: Other treatment and rights

      17. Section 172: Delivery of seized property

      18. Section 173: Codes of practice

      19. Section 174: Interpretation

      20. Section 175: Customs officers

      21. Section 176: Service policemen

    5. Part 5

      Miscellaneous and General Provisions

      1. Section 177: Extradition from British overseas territories

      2. Section 178: Extradition to British overseas territories

      3. Section 179: Competing claims to extradition

      4. Section 180: Proceedings on deferred warrant or request

      5. Section 181: Proceedings where extradition deferred

      6. Section 182: Legal advice, assistance and representation: England and Wales

      7. Section 183: Legal aid: Scotland

      8. Section 184: Grant of free legal aid: Northern Ireland

      9. Section 185: Free legal aid: supplementary

      10. Section 186: Re-extradition: preliminary

      11. Section 187: Re-extradition hearing

      12. Section 188: Re-extradition to category 1 territories

      13. Section 189: Re-extradition to category 2 territories

      14. Section 190: Crown Prosecution Service: role in extradition proceedings

      15. Section 191: Lord Advocate: role in extradition proceedings

      16. Section 192: Northern Ireland DPP and Crown Solicitor: role in extradition proceedings

      17. Section 193: Parties to international Conventions

      18. Section 194: Special extradition arrangements

      19. Section 195: Human rights: appropriate tribunal

      20. Section 196: Genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes

      21. Section 197: Custody

      22. Section 198: Bail: England and Wales

      23. Section 199: Bail: Scotland

      24. Section 200: Appeal against grant of bail

      25. Section 201: Remand to local authority accommodation

      26. Section 202: Receivable documents

      27. Section 203: Documents sent by facsimile

      28. Section 204: Part 1 warrant: transmission by other electronic means

      29. Section 205: Written statements and admissions

      30. Section 206: Burden and standard of proof

      31. Section 207: Extradition for more than one offence

      32. Section 208: National security

      33. Section 209: Reasonable force

      34. Section 210: Rules of court

      35. Section 211: Service of notices

      36. Section 212: Article 95 alerts: transitional provisions

      37. Section 213: Disposal of Part 1 warrant and extradition request

      38. Section 214: Disposal of charge

      39. Section 215: European framework list

      40. Section 216: Other interpretative provisions

      41. Section 217: Form of documents

      42. Section 218: Existing legislation on extradition

      43. Section 219: Amendments

      44. Section 220: Repeals

      45. Section 221: Commencement

      46. Section 222: Channel Islands and Isle of Man

      47. Section 223: Orders and regulations

      48. Section 224: Orders in Council

      49. Section 225: Finance

      50. Section 226: Extent

      51. Section 227: Short title

  6. Schedules

    1. Schedule 1: Re-extradition: Modifications

    2. Schedule 2: European framework list

    3. Schedule 3: Amendments

    4. Schedule 4: Repeals

  7. Commencement

  8. Hansard References

  • Explanatory Notes Table of contents

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Explanatory Notes

Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.

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