M
Member
Speaking in the House of Lords on 5 February 2026
Debate
Crime and Policing BillContribution
One case study demonstrates how to reverse the injustice from Clause 195. In 2016, Paul Wright, a UK national, was arrested on a Greek request to enforce a 15-month prison sentence, imposed following a conviction in his absence for joyriding and criminal damage. He had been questioned by police in 2003 while on holiday, but was completely unaware of any prosecution, conviction or sentence until his arrest on the extradition request 13 years later. Extradition was refused because he was not entitled to a retrial, having only a conditional right to apply out of time. Although the Greek authorities offered conversion of the sentence to a financial penalty, Mr Wright denied committing any offence and he refused. At the time, the noble Lord, Lord Hanson of Flint—then David Hanson MP—spoke publicly about the unfairness of convicting a person in their absence without any opportunity to defend themselves.
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