Direct Communications Unit 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF Switchboard: 020 7035 4848 - Fax: 020 7035

4745 - Textphone: 020 7035 4742 E-mail: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk - Website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

julia.odwyer@btopenworld.com Ms Julia ODwyer Reference: T3237/12 20 March 2012

Dear Ms ODwyer, Thank you for your e-mails of 25 January and 29 February about the extradition of Christopher Tappin. Your e-mails have been passed to the Direct Communications Unit and I have been asked to reply. As you know, Mr Tappin is charged by the USA with offences arising from an alleged conspiracy to export controlled defence articles to Iran without the required export licence. Mr Tappin was arrested in May 2010 and, after the case was considered by a District Judge, it was sent to the Home Secretary who ordered Mr Tappins extradition in April 2011. Mr Tappin appealed against the decision of the District Judge, but the appeal was dismissed by the High Court on 13 January 2012. On 31 January 2012, Mr Tappin was refused leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. The European Court of Human Rights also refused to put a stay on his extradition. Mr Tappin made representations claiming that he would be subject to the provisions of the National Defence Authorization Act, but the Government received clear assurances from the USA that this would not be the case. Mr Tappin was extradited on 24 February 2012. The Government notes the concerns that have been expressed about Mr Tappins human rights, and, in particular, about his safety in prison in the USA. The UKs domestic law regarding extradition requests received from the USA comes under Part 2 of the Extradition Act 2003, which provides a person whose extradition is sought by another jurisdiction with full and effective

safeguards, including those relating to human rights. These are matters which are considered by the courts. I note your concern regarding the US courts decision to refuse bail for Mr Tappin. However, the UK Government has no involvement in these matters. Any decision to grant bail in Mr Tappins case is solely a matter for the courts in the USA (as is the case in the UK courts). Detainees are advised to discuss bail issues with their lawyer. The support offered to British nationals in detention in the USA is detailed on the following Foreign & Commonwealth Office website: http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/arrested. This includes details of local lawyers, sending money to prisoners from their families and putting detainees in touch with the British non-governmental organisation, Prisoners Abroad. Sir Scott Bakers review of the UKs extradition arrangements was published on 18 October 2011. The report makes a number of recommendations to improve the UKs extradition arrangements, both with the European Union and the wider world, and covers the UK-US bilateral extradition treaty. The Government is now carefully examining the review panels findings and will announce what action it will take in due course. In doing so, account will also be taken of the Parliamentary debates on 24 November and 5 December 2011, as well as relevant reports from Parliamentary Committees. Yours sincerely,

Hulya Ahmet Direct Communications Unit