Extradition

Extradition is the process of fetching a defendant from another country for trial. If a foreign country issues an arrest warrant for your extradition to face criminal charges abroad, a District Judge at a hearing in a magistrates' court will decide whether you should be extradited.

Many factors are taken into account. Extradition depends on treaties with other governments as well as the law of the UK, so the outcome may depend on which country wants to extradite you. You are less likely to be extradited to a country where the judge thinks you may not have a fair trial.

If you are extradited to the UK from another country, you will be dealt with under the ordinary procedures of the criminal law once you arrive here.

Passports and travel documents

The most common offences relating to passports and travel documents are breaches of immigration control, such as attempting to obtain leave to enter or remain in the UK by deception, which can include the use of a false passport.

A passport may be stolen or forged, and these offences are punishable in the same way as forgery or theft of other documents.

The Identity Cards Act 2006 creates offences that are already in force, though identity cards are not yet in general use.  These cover the misuse, alteration or forgery of passports and other immigration documents, as well as driving licences and identity cards, and also improperly obtaining the issue of these documents.