The Coronavirus Act 2020: Remote Extradition Courts, Far From Problem Free

The Coronavirus Act 2020 came into force on 25 March 2020 and contains provisions aimed at ensuring the court systems, including those dealing with extradition matters, remain functioning as far as possible/practicable and as is necessary, during the current global pandemic.

Whilst attendance at court as either a Requested Person or an advocate would not fall foul of the current lockdown measures, the reality is that every effort is being made to avoid physical attendance at courts as far as is possible. HMP Wandsworth, the remand prison for those facing extradition, is presently on a complete lockdown, with no prisoners moving in or out. The result is that Requested Persons in custody will not be appearing before the court in person for the foreseeable future. The need for provisions to prevent the extradition court system from grinding to a halt completely was therefore inevitable.