Conservative red-tape policy would let dangerous criminals roam free in Wales and Europe (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

Conservative red-tape policy would let dangerous criminals roam free in Wales and Europe

May 19, 2009 12:00 AM

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have learned that the European Arrest Warrant, opposed by the Conservatives in Europe, has dramatically increased the safety of Wales, the U.K. and Europe as a whole. 335 dangerous criminals would have walked free under Conservative policy on Europe, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.

Alan Butt Philip, lead Welsh Liberal Democrat European candidate said:

"The figures are clear and the facts are chilling. Without the European Arrest Warrant, some 335 dangerous rapists, murderers, thieves and paedophiles would not have been brought back to face justice in the U.K. The Conservatives oppose this vital warrant because they refuse to see that Wales is stronger and safer working closely with our European neighbours. The Liberal Democrats fought hard for the European Arrest Warrant because we know that the worst offenders will benefit most from a Europe drowned in the dogma and red-tape the Tories would prefer."

Conservative MEPs voted against the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), which has slashed extradition times across the EU from an average of eighteen months to just 43 days. David Cameron's Conservative party would allow hundreds of murderers, thieves, rapists and paedophiles to walk free if they get their way on 4 June.

Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said:

"The Welsh public has the right to expect our law to extend beyond Wales when dangerous offenders flee the country. We should also be thankful that some 920 dangerous criminals have been removed from the U.K. in the same way. Thanks to the hard work of Liberal Democrats in Europe and despite Conservative opposition, Wales is a safer country and our law enforcement stronger, for working with Europe. The Conservatives are so negative about Europe they can't even see the dangers of an isolated Wales."

Notes to editors:

1. The figures on the number of people extradited to and from Britain under a European Arrest Warrant since 2004 came in answer to a Parliamentary Question:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm081119/text/81119w0030.htm#08112012002237

2. During the passage of the Extradition Bill in 2003, Lord Filkin noted that it took on average 18 months in a contested case to extradite someone from Britain, and certain notorious cases had gone on for five years or more:

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/2003/may/01/extradition-bill#column_853#column_853

Roger Gardener was a convicted paedophile who masterminded an arson attack on his own home in an attempt to gain sympathy. He fled to Ireland when on the verge of being discovered but was extradited under a European Arrest Warrant and sentenced to twelve years for rape, sexual assault and conspiracy to commit arson.

Gardener: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/6336349.stm