News In Focus
5 December 2005
Legal professionals meet in Edinburgh
The Lord Advocate, Colin Boyd QC welcomes legal professionals from across Europe and beyond to a meeting in Edinburgh of the European Judicial Network today.
The network was formed in 2001 as a way of encouraging co-operation between the distinct legal jurisdictions within Europe. Today's meeting is hosted by the Lord Advocate in recognition of the UK's Presidency of the EU.
More than 125 prosecutors, law enforcement and judicial personnel are attending the conference to discuss key issues such as the European evidence warrant and the response to terrorism. Delegates come from all 25 member states of the European Union, joined by representatives of the applicant states and observers from countries such as the United States.
Also on the agenda for discussion is the success of the European arrest warrant, which has drastically reduced the time it takes for a suspect to be surrendered to another member state. Scotland has had recent experience of the efficiency of the EAW, with a warrant issued for Christopher Bailiff, a UK national accused of drugs crimes, in June.
Bailiff was arrested in Spain just four days after a European arrest warrant had been issued for him. He consented to his extradition and returned to Scotland less than a month later. He subsequently pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of drugs, and was sentenced on 1 December to five years in prison.
Welcoming the delegates, Mr Boyd said: “It is our responsibility as upholders and defenders of the rule of law to effectively and efficiently investigate and prosecute these criminals in an arena that is no longer domestic.
"The success of the European Judicial Network has been to provide a forum to exchange ideas, experience and best practice in this area. More importantly it has provided a mechanism for resolving blockages in judicial co-operation."