Many of you will be familiar with the ongoing struggle of two of my constituents against the absurdity of the European Arrest Warrant (the EAW).  Matthew Neale and David Birkinshaw, whom the press has come to know as "The Derby Two", were extradited from the U.K. to a Latvian prison in the summer of 2009 under the provisions of the EAW.  They were held without charge or trial for ten weeks under conditions which the former Latvian President described as "not fit for animals". 
 
Following their eventual acquittal they were then called back for a “second stage” in the Latvian criminal proceedings (a procedure which borders on “double jeopardy”).  A second hearing in Riga found all charges dropped against Mr. Birkinshaw, though Mr. Neale is expected back in court this October. 
 
With the change in National Government, I felt this would be a good opportunity to call on Home Secretary Theresa May to revaluate our participation in the EAW -- which can be used by a rural magistrate in Bulgaria to demand the extradition of a British national on a trivial charge. It is a frightening thought that any of the twenty-seven member states (soon to be twenty-eight with Croatia, or possibly Turkey in the coming years) can use this power to force defendants to take the stand under judicial systems which may not meet the standards we expect. 
 
I was informed in a response from the Home Office that, following summer recess, they have decided to review all extradition agreements -- worldwide, including the EAW.  I'll keep my hopes high, but will continue to warn constituents of this new risk taken by travelling abroad.

Roger Helmer

Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands