New EU Law affects UK Citizens committing offences abroad

The Knock on the Door

In the UK if someone arrested, there is a right to a lawyer, due process, and a court appearance to examine the evidence. There cannot just be a “knock on the door” which epitomised the Nazi regime, and frightened those of us old enough to remember the terror campaign of the thirties and forties.

But, a knock on the door has become a reality for British citizens. Typically, if an offence in a European country carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment, the UK citizen has no rights whatever and literally there could a “knock on the door” and he could be taken without any trial or rights to a foreign jail.

Three years maximum prison sentence, must mean that the crime is serious I hear you say. But that is the maximum. There have been extraditions for stealing mobile phones, when in reality the penalty would only be a modest fine.

Furthermore in European countries many criminal cases will be treated as civil in England e.g. not paying a hotel bill, or defaulting on a personal guarantee. We have all read about Gary MacKinnon who is to be carted off to America.

British citizens should take even greater care when travelling within Europe. One slip up there and the “knock on the door” could happen to you.

What do you think? Has this ever happened to you? tell us about it here