Twice as many suspects extradited to US as to Britain

Published on Tuesday 28 July 2009 21:49

BRITAIN has extradited more than twice as many criminal suspects to the US as have gone the other way, since a controversial new law was introduced, it has been revealed.

Suspects in the US are also 20 per cent less likely to be extradited than those living here, figures showed.

Critics said it showed Britons had "second-class status" when it came to being sent for trial in the US.

The case of Scots-born computer hacker Gary McKinnon is only the latest to draw attention to the Extradition Act.

Under the act, prosecutors in the UK are required to produce "probable cause" showing the defendant's guilt, critics claim.

But US prosecutors are required only to produce an arrest warrant showing the person is wanted by the authorities.

Since the law came into force in 2004, 56 people have been sent to the US, but only 26 have gone the other way.

The figures were released to the Liberal Democrats in reply to parliamentary questions.