UK-US Extradition: An Imbalanced Relationship?

In the following article BCL's partner Shaul Brazil examines the application in the United Kingdom of the 'forum bar' to extradition which was introduced following widespread criticism of the perceived imbalance in the extradition arrangements between the United Kingdom and the United States and the so-called 'long arm' jurisdiction of United States criminal law.

Extradition relations between the United Kingdom and the United States have a long history. They began in 1794 and over the next 200 years the two countries entered into five substantive treaties on extradition. Most recently, on 31 March 2003, the Treaty on Extradition between the Government of the United States and the Government of the United Kingdom was signed (but ratified by the United States only in 2006).