§ 32. Mr. NIELDasked whether he is aware that, in the case of fugitives charged with burglary or robbery, the delays consequent on correspondence for extradition between France and England being conducted through the Foreign Offices of the respective countries not infrequently interposes an insuperable barrier to the arrest of the criminal and to the recovery of the stolen goods; whether His Majesty's Government will make representations to the French Government favouring the substitution of direct correspondence between the police of both countries in place of the practice at present observed; and whether he is aware that the accelerated modern travel facilities, coupled with the existing machinery for extradition, furnish an incitement to crime which prompt action through the police of either country would serve to mitigate?
§ Mr. ACLANDI am not aware that the practice at present in force between this country and France involves any delay in the apprehension of fugitive criminals. The police authorities of the two countries are in constant direct communication with each other respecting the movements of suspected persons, although they are not authorised to apply for their arrest. Applications for the provisional arrest in France of fugitive criminals, with a view to their ultimate extradition, are made by the British Consular officer in whose district the fugitive is located, on receipt of telegraphic instructions from the Foreign Office which are invariably dispatched with the utmost promptitude. In the converse case, in this country, the Consul-General of France, under instructions from his Government, makes direct application to the magistrate at Bow Street, for a warrant for the arrest of the fugitive. When such provisional arrests are effected the necessary documentary evidence in support of an application for extradition follows as soon as possible in the case of both countries. The machinery is thus as expeditious as it is possible to make it, consistently with the necessary safeguards, and I do not see how any effective change can be made in it.
§ Mr. NIELDIs the hon. Member aware that not only in the case of provisional arrest, but in actual cases where the warrant has been applied for, in consequence of the delay in the correspondence between the two countries the magistrates have discharged the prisoners?
§ Mr. ACLANDNo, Sir, I am not aware of it.