LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Britain will not participate in a
European scheme to fast-track the extradition of criminals
following its departure from the European Union, the government
said in its mandate for negotiations on a long term relationship
with the bloc.
The European Arrest Warrant was introduced in 2004 and
replaced lengthy extradition processes between EU countries. It
means a warrant issued by one EU country's judicial authority to
arrest a person and surrender them for prosecution is valid
throughout the EU.
"The UK is not seeking to participate in the European Arrest
Warrant as part of the future relationship. The agreement should
instead provide for fast-track extradition arrangements," the
mandate published by the government on Thursday said.
The EU has previously warned that Brexit would mean it was
unable to participate in the scheme, and Britain has itself
already talked about alternative arrangements for extradition.
Britain has used the European Arrest Warrant system
thousands of times since its creation, including to bring back a
man who tried to carry out an attack in London in 2005 and then
fled to Italy.
(Reporting by William James; editing by Stephen Addison)