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Extradition Act 2003

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GeneralU.K.

Commencement Information

I1Act wholly in force at 1.1.2004, see s. 221 and S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (subject to arts. 3-5) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 art. 2(2) and S.I. 2003/3312 art. 2(2))

[F1151ADealing with person for other offencesU.K.

(1)This section applies if a person is extradited to the United Kingdom from a territory which is not—

(a)a category 1 territory, or

(b)a territory falling within section 150(1)(b).

(2)The person may be dealt with in the United Kingdom for an offence committed before the person's extradition only if—

(a)the offence is one falling within subsection (3), or

(b)the condition in subsection (4) is satisfied.

[F2This is subject to section 151B.]

(3)The offences are—

(a)the offence in respect of which the person is extradited;

(b)an offence disclosed by the information provided to the territory in respect of that offence;

(c)an offence in respect of which consent to the person being dealt with is given on behalf of the territory.

(4)The condition is that—

(a)the person has returned to the territory from which the person was extradited, or

(b)the person has been given an opportunity to leave the United Kingdom.

(5)A person is dealt with in the United Kingdom for an offence if—

(a)the person is tried there for it;

(b)the person is detained with a view to trial there for it.]

Textual Amendments

F2Words in s. 151A(2) inserted (E.W.) (21.7.2014) by Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (c. 12), ss. 166(1), 185(1) (with ss. 21, 33, 42, 58, 75, 93); S.I. 2014/1916, art. 2(l)

[F3151BDetention of person for trial in England and Wales for other offencesE+W

(1)Section 150 or 151A does not prevent a person in whose case that section applies from being detained with a view to trial in England and Wales for an offence if the conditions in subsection (2) are satisfied.

(2)The conditions are that—

(a)the United Kingdom and the territory from which the person was extradited have each made a declaration under Article 14(3) of the Extradition Convention, and the declarations are still in force;

(b)the Secretary of State makes a request for the consent referred to in section 150(3)(c) or 151A(3)(c) in respect of the offence (“the consent request”);

(c)the Secretary of State gives notification, which is explicitly acknowledged on behalf of the territory, of the date on which the detention is to begin (“the notified date”).

(3)The Extradition Convention is the European Convention on Extradition done at Paris on 13 December 1957.

(4)This section applies only to detention during the period beginning with the notified date and ending with whichever of the following occurs first—

(a)if a notification of opposition to the detention is given on behalf of the territory, the date on which Secretary of State receives it;

(b)the date on which the Secretary of State receives notification given on behalf of the territory as to whether the consent request is granted or refused;

(c)the expiry of the period of 90 days beginning with the date on which the consent request is received.]

Textual Amendments

152Remission of punishment for other offencesU.K.

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a person is extradited to the United Kingdom [F4from a territory;]F4

(b)before his extradition he has been convicted of an offence in the United Kingdom;

(c)he has not been extradited in respect of that offence.

(2)The [F5sentence for the offence must be treated as served]F5 but the person’s conviction for the offence must be treated as a conviction for all other purposes.

Textual Amendments

F4Words in s. 152(1)(a) substituted (25.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 75(3)(a), 116; S.I. 2009/3096, art. 3(r)

F5Words in s. 152(2) substituted (25.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 75(3)(b), 116; S.I. 2009/3096, art. 3(r)

Commencement Information

I2Act wholly in force at 1.1.2004, see s. 221 and S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (subject to arts. 3-5) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 art. 2(2) and S.I. 2003/3312 art. 2(2))

153Return of person acquitted or not triedU.K.

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a person is accused in the United Kingdom of the commission of an offence;

(b)the person is extradited to the United Kingdom in respect of the offence [F6from a territory;]F6

(c)the condition in subsection (2) or the condition in subsection (3) is satisfied.

(2)The condition is that—

(a)proceedings against the person for the offence are not begun before the end of the required period, which is 6 months starting with the day on which the person arrives in the United Kingdom on his extradition, and

(b)before the end of the period of 3 months starting immediately after the end of the required period the person asks the Secretary of State to return him to the territory from which he was extradited.

(3)The condition is that—

(a)at his trial for the offence the person is acquitted or is discharged under any of the provisions specified in subsection (4), and

(b)before the end of the period of 3 months starting immediately after the date of his acquittal or discharge the person asks the Secretary of State to return him to the territory from which he was extradited.

(4)The provisions are—

[F7(a)section 79 or 80 of the Sentencing Code;]

(b)section 246(1), (2) or (3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 46);

(c)Article 4(1) of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/3160 (N.I. 24)).

(5)The Secretary of State must arrange for him to be sent back, free of charge and with as little delay as possible, to the territory from which he was extradited to the United Kingdom in respect of the offence.

(6)If the accusation in subsection (1)(a) relates to the commission of an offence in Scotland, subsections (2)(b), (3)(b) and (5) apply as if the references to the Secretary of State were references to the Scottish Ministers.

Textual Amendments

F6Words in s. 153(1)(b) substituted (25.1.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 74(4), 116; S.I. 2009/3096, art. 3(q)

F7S. 153(4)(a) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 204 (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Commencement Information

I3Act wholly in force at 1.1.2004, see s. 221 and S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (subject to arts. 3-5) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 art. 2(2) and S.I. 2003/3312 art. 2(2))

[F8153AUndertaking in relation to person serving sentenceU.K.

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a person is accused in the United Kingdom of the commission of an offence or has been convicted of an offence by or before a court in the United Kingdom;

(b)a Part 3 warrant is issued in respect of the person or the Secretary of State makes a request for the extradition of the person;

(c)the person is serving a sentence of imprisonment or another form of detention in a territory;

(d)the person's extradition to the United Kingdom from the territory in pursuance of the warrant or request is made subject to a condition that an undertaking is given by or on behalf of the United Kingdom with regard to the person's treatment in the United Kingdom or return to the territory (or both).

(2)The Secretary of State may give an undertaking to a person acting on behalf of the territory with regard to either or both of these things—

(a)the treatment in the United Kingdom of the person in respect of whom the warrant is issued or the request for extradition is made;

(b)the return of that person to the territory.

(3)The terms which may be included by the Secretary of State in an undertaking given under subsection (2) in relation to a person accused in the United Kingdom of the commission of an offence include terms—

(a)that the person be kept in custody until the conclusion of the proceedings against the person for the offence and any other offence in respect of which the person is permitted to be dealt with in the United Kingdom;

(b)that the person be returned to the territory to serve the remainder of the sentence on the conclusion of those proceedings.

(4)The terms which may be included by the Secretary of State in an undertaking given under subsection (2) in relation to a person who has been convicted of an offence by or before a court in the United Kingdom include terms that the person be returned to the territory to serve the remainder of the sentence after the person would otherwise be released from detention pursuant to the sentence imposed in the United Kingdom (whether or not on licence).

(5)If a person is to be returned to a territory by virtue of an undertaking given under subsection (2), the undertaking is sufficient authority for a constable—

(a)to remove the person from any prison or other institution where the person is detained;

(b)to keep the person in custody until returned;

(c)to convey the person to the territory.

Textual Amendments

153BReturn of person in pursuance of undertakingU.K.

(1)This section applies if—

(a)an undertaking is given under section 153A(2) as to the return of a person to a territory;

(b)the person is returned to the territory in pursuance of the undertaking;

(c)the person is returned to the United Kingdom to serve the remainder of any sentence imposed in the United Kingdom or the person otherwise returns to the United Kingdom.

(2)Time during which the person was outside the United Kingdom as a result of the undertaking given under section 153A(2) does not count as time served by the person as part of the sentence.

(3)If the person is not entitled to be released from detention pursuant to the sentence—

(a)the person is liable to be detained in pursuance of the sentence, and

(b)if at large, the person must be treated as being unlawfully at large.

(4)If the person is entitled to be released from detention on licence pursuant to the sentence—

(a)if the person was released on licence at the time of return to the territory, the licence is suspended until the person's return to the United Kingdom;

(b)if the person was not released on licence at that time, subsections (5) to (8) apply in relation to the person (“the offender”).

(5)The offender is liable to be detained, on return to the United Kingdom, in any place in which the offender could have been detained pursuant to the sentence before the time of return to the territory.

(6)A constable or immigration officer may—

(a)take the offender into custody, and

(b)convey the offender to the place mentioned in subsection (5).

(7)The offender must be released on licence within the period of 5 days beginning when the offender is taken (or retaken) into custody under this section.

(8)In calculating a period of 5 days for the purposes of subsection (7) no account is to be taken of any day mentioned in any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 59(10).

(9)The powers conferred on a constable by subsection (6) are exercisable in any part of the United Kingdom.

(10)For the purposes of this section—

(a)a person is entitled to be released from detention if there is—

F9( i ). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(ii)a duty to release the person under [F10Chapter 6 of Part 12] of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 F11...,

(iii)a duty to release the person under section 1, 1AA [F12, 1AB] or 7(1) of the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 or section 5, 11(2), 13, 19 or 23 of the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007, or

(iv)a duty to release the person under section 1 of the Northern Ireland (Remission of Sentences) Act 1995, Article 26 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 or Article 17 [F13, 18(8) or 20A(8)] of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008;

(b)an immigration officer is a person who is an immigration officer within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1971.

153CReturn to extraditing territory to serve sentenceU.K.

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a person is extradited to the United Kingdom from a territory for the purposes of being prosecuted for an offence;

(b)the person's extradition is made subject to a condition that an undertaking is given by or on behalf of the United Kingdom as to the person's return to the territory.

(2)The Secretary of State may give an undertaking to a person acting on behalf of the territory as to the person's return to the territory.

(3)The terms which may be included by the Secretary of State in an undertaking given under subsection (2) in relation to a person include terms that if the person is convicted of the offence and a sentence of imprisonment or another form of detention is imposed in respect of it, the person is to be returned to the territory to serve the sentence.

(4)A person who is to be returned to a territory by virtue of an undertaking given under subsection (2) must be returned as soon as is reasonably practicable after the sentence is imposed and any other proceedings in respect of the offence are concluded.

(5)If subsection (4) is complied with the sentence for the offence is treated as served but the person's conviction for the offence must be treated as a conviction for all other purposes.

(6)The sentence for the offence is treated as served under subsection (5) only in so far as it consists of the sentence of imprisonment or another form of detention mentioned in subsection (3).

(7)Subsection (8) applies if—

(a)subsection (4) is not complied with, and

(b)the person applies to the court which imposed the sentence to expedite return to the territory.

(8)The court must order return by such date as is specified in the order unless reasonable cause is shown for the delay.

(9)If a person is to be returned by virtue of an undertaking given under subsection (2), a constable may—

(a)remove the person from any prison or other institution where the person is detained;

(b)keep the person in custody until returned;

(c)convey the person to the territory to which the person is to be returned.

Textual Amendments

153D Sections 153A and 153C etc : supplementary U.K.

(1)Nothing in section 153A or 153C requires the return of a person to a territory in a case in which the Secretary of State is not satisfied that the return is compatible with the Convention rights within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998 or with the United Kingdom's obligations under the Refugee Convention.

(2)References in sections 153A and 153C and subsection (1) above to the Secretary of State are to be read as references to the Scottish Ministers in a case in which—

(a)a Part 3 warrant was issued in respect of the person to be returned, and

(b)the warrant was issued by a sheriff.

F14( 3 ). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

154Restriction on bail where undertaking given by Secretary of StateE+W

(1)This section applies in relation to a person if—

(a)the Secretary of State has given an undertaking in connection with the person’s extradition to the United Kingdom, and

(b)the undertaking includes terms that the person be kept in custody until the conclusion of any proceedings against him in the United Kingdom for an offence.

(2)A court, judge or justice of the peace may grant bail to the person in the proceedings only if the court, judge or justice of the peace considers that there are exceptional circumstances which justify it.

Commencement Information

I4Act wholly in force at 1.1.2004, see s. 221 and S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (subject to arts. 3-5) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 art. 2(2) and S.I. 2003/3312 art. 2(2))

155Service personnelU.K.

The Secretary of State may by order provide for the preceding provisions of this Part to have effect with specified modifications in relation to a case where the person whose extradition is sought or ordered is subject to [F15service law.]F15.

Textual Amendments

F15Words in s. 155 substituted (28.3.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 31.10.2009) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 378, 383, Sch. 16 para. 204; S.I. 2009/812, art. 3 (with transitional provisions (24.4.2009 for certain purposes otherwise 31.10.2009) in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4

Commencement Information

I5Act wholly in force at 1.1.2004, see s. 221 and S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (subject to arts. 3-5) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 art. 2(2) and S.I. 2003/3312 art. 2(2))

[F16155ACategory 1 territories not applying [F17Trade and Cooperation Agreement] to old casesU.K.

(1) This section applies to a category 1 territory that deals with [F18requests for extradition made by the United Kingdom] otherwise than in accordance with the system provided for in the [F19Title VII of Part 3 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement] if they relate to acts committed before a particular date (“the relevant date”).

(2)In the case of a territory to which this section applies, the Secretary of State has the same powers to request a person's extradition in relation to acts committed before the relevant date as he would have in the case of a category 2 territory.

(3)The Secretary of State may by order provide that, in the case of an extradition request which—

(a)is made to a specified category 1 territory to which this section applies, and

(b)relates to acts committed before the relevant date,

this Part is to have effect as if that territory were a category 2 territory, and with such modifications as may be specified.

(4)In this section—

  • specified”, in relation to an order under this section, means specified in the order.

  • [F21the Trade and Cooperation Agreement” has the same meaning as in the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 (see section 37 of that Act).]]

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