2024 No. 172 (S. 1)

EXTRADITION, SCOTLAND

The Extradition Appeals (Scotland) Order 2024

Made

Laid before Parliament

Coming into force

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 58(12)(c) and 59(1) and (2) of the Crime and Courts Act 20131.

Citation, commencement and extent1

1

This Order may be cited as the Extradition Appeals (Scotland) Order 2024.

2

This Order comes into force on 13th March 2024.

3

This Order extends to Scotland only.

Interpretation2

In this Order, “section 108 human rights appeal” means—

a

an appeal brought—

i

in accordance with section 108(4) of the Extradition Act 20032 if, or to the extent that, it is an appeal against an order by the Scottish Ministers3 for a person’s extradition on the grounds that the extradition would not be compatible with the Convention rights within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 19984; and

ii

in circumstances where the Scottish Ministers were precluded from considering that question by section 70(11) of the Extradition Act 20035; or

b

an appeal brought in accordance with section 108(5) and (6) of the Extradition Act 20036.

Modification of the Extradition Act 20033

1

The Extradition Act 2003 is modified as follows.

2

Subsections (2) to (4) of section 109 of the Extradition Act 2003 do not apply to a section 108 human rights appeal.

Transitional provision4

In a case where notice of application for leave to bring a section 108 human rights appeal has been given before the day on which this Order comes into force but that appeal has not yet been allowed or dismissed by the High Court of Justiciary7, the modification made by this Order applies to that appeal as it applies to a section 108 human rights appeal brought on or after that day.

Tom TugendhatMinister of StateHome Office
Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes consequential provision to modify the application of subsections (2) to (4) of section 109 of the Extradition Act 2003 (c. 41) (“the 2003 Act”). Those subsections (when read with sections 141 and 216(9) of the 2003 Act) provide that, in Scotland, on an appeal under section 108 of the 2003 Act against a decision of the Scottish Ministers to order a person’s extradition, the High Court of Justiciary is to consider the questions which were, or should have been, before the Scottish Ministers.

Section 70(11) of the 2003 Act (as inserted by Part 2 of Schedule 20 to the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22)) (when read with section 141 of the 2003 Act) provides that, in Scotland, the Scottish Ministers are not to consider whether the extradition would be compatible with the Convention rights within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42).

This Order clarifies that the High Court of Justiciary is able to allow or dismiss an appeal brought on human rights grounds where human rights questions were not considered by the Scottish Ministers because of the effect of section 70(11).

This Order makes provision in relation to Scotland equivalent to that made in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland in the Extradition Appeals (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/2384).

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen.