Extradition

Members of Chambers’ extradition team have experience both defending Requested Persons and prosecuting cases when instructed by the CPS Extradition Unit on behalf of Requesting States.   

Our members are instructed in the full range of extradition proceedings, from initial hearings at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, through to the Appellate Division of the High Court. 

Members have experience dealing with European cases under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, as well as those relating to all other jurisdictions.

Our members regularly undertake Part 1 cases, which include arrest warrants, issued by EU States. Members also have specialist experience of undertaking Part 2 cases, which are complex, and can involve requests from other countries, such as Albania and Turkey.

Chambers’ extradition team is instructed on various matters, such as: 

  • Advising on Part 1 cases;
  • Representation in Part 1 cases;
  • Advising on Part 2 cases;
  • Representation in Part 2 cases;
  • Representation on appeal for and against bail;
  • Advising on appeal;
  • Drafting of grounds of appeal and applications to renew grounds of appeal;
  • Drafting responses to grounds of appeal, and responses to applications to renew grounds of appeal; and
  • Representation on appeal.

Recent and notable cases

Ngoc Son Do v Czech Republic [2024] – Claire Stevenson represented the Respondent at a renewal hearing where the Appellant applied to renew an application for permission to appeal. The application was refused. 

Nita v Romania [2024] EWHC 408 (Admin) – Claire Stevenson was instructed by the CPS Extradition Unit to provide written submissions in response to an application by the requested person to renew permission to appeal. Permission to appeal was refused.

Sebastian Celer v Polish Judicial Authority [2024] – Claire Stevenson represented the Respondent. The Appellant sought bail. Bail was refused. 

Ondrej Danihel v Regional Court of Brno, Czech Republic [2024] – Claire Stevenson represented the Respondent. The Appellant sought bail. Bail was refused. 

Barney McGinley v Ireland [2023] - Claire Stevenson represented the Respondent. The Appellant sought bail. Bail was refused.

Slawomir Wieckowski v Polish Judicial Authority [2023] - Claire Stevenson represented the Respondent. The Appellant sought bail. Bail was refused.

János Orsós v Dr Antal Gábor, Penitentiary Judge at the Pécs Regional Court, Hungary [2023] EWHC 3089 (Admin) – At a hearing where Counsel Claire Stevenson was not required to attend, but represented the Judicial Authority at the lower court and was instructed by the Judicial Authority to respond to the application seeking permission to appeal, extradition was ordered, and both application for permission to appeal, and to renew grounds of appeal, were dismissed.

Germany v Romeo Moli [2023] - Piers Walter represented the Requested Person in Part 1 extradition proceedings. The Requested Person consented to extradition.

Khadija Sennai v Court of Appeal of Palermo, Italy [2023] - Claire Stevenson represented the Respondent. The Appellant sought bail. Bail was refused.

Republic of Albania v AG [2022] - Claire Stevenson represented the requested person in this Part 2 extradition case. Discharge was ordered under section 74(8) of the Extradition Act 2003 after the Court could not be satisfied that the conduct contained in the Part 2 warrant would amount to an extradition offence.

Hill v Court of First Instance Antwerp, Belgium [2022] EWHC 3072 (Admin) – Claire Stevenson represented the Respondent. The Appellant sought bail. Bail was refused. 

District Prosecutors Office (Bulgaria) v Cristoglo [2022] EWHC 2171 (Admin) – Claire Stevenson represented the Appellant in an appeal against the granting of bail. Appeal dismissed. 

Gurskis v Latvian Judicial Authority [2022] EWHC 1305 (Admin)  - Claire Stevenson represented the Respondent Judicial Authority at a High Court appeal by the requested person where ‘Brexit uncertainty’ was a key issue. The appeal was dismissed. ·

Government of Turkey v Ozgur Tanis [2021] EWHC 1675 (Admin) – Joel Bennathan KC (as he then was; now the Honourable Mr Justice Bennathan) led Claire Stevenson defending the requested person. First at the lower court, obtaining his discharge. Secondly, at the High Court, when the CPS Extradition Unit appealed against the District Judge’s decision that extradition to face trial in Turkey for offences related to his apparent links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was barred by virtue of the Extradition Act 2003 Part 2 section 81(b) as he might suffer prejudice at his trial. The appeal was dismissed. 

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