I'm aware of the issues and criticisms surrounding the use of EAWs. However, in this case the EAW was thoroughly examined and tested at every level of the UK courts and found to be legitimate. In particular they examined the very issue you raise - dual criminality - and found that the crime Assange is accused of in Sweden [iwould also be a crime in the UK[/i. So your point fails. Something you would have spotted had you read those links I keep mentioning.





It really isn't. There is zero evidence of any abuse of power in the Assange case. Absolutely none. At all. By anyone.

Lucky him

You obviously didn't notice that I was referring not directly to my own argument, but to the 30 September 2011 report to the Home Secretary by a Committee chaired by the Rt Hon Sir Scott Baker which reviewed the United Kingdom's extradition arrangements, and made those findings.



To me, they seem rational and compelling. But if you want to know what kind of nonsense is being argued, why don't you drop a line to Sir Scott Baker? I'm sure he'd be bowled over by your insight.

Curiously Call me Dave seems to have perhaps become exasperated by the EAW, as he indicated during a trade visit to Brazil last week (the perfect forum, obviously) that the government intends to exercise its opt-out powers to opt out of all of the police and criminal justice measures adopted under the 1992 Treaty of Maastricht - including therefore the EAW - "before the end of the year".



The government has until the end of May 2014 to notify the European Commission of any decision to opt out.



But what a mess! For starters, any opt-out can relate only to measures established before the Treaty of Lisbon came into force in 2009, so there's a splendid recipe for confusion.



Did I miss the Consultation which will obviously have been assiduously carried out on such fundamental measures?

If we opt out of EAW, how would we get future naughty teachers back from France? Or is it one of these "one way" opt outs?

I'm assuming we'd be back to old-style extraditions, like we have with many non-EU countries now.