Leading legal figures call for European arrest warrant retention

Without the European arrest warrant, Britain will lose the ability to obtain speedy extradition of suspects, and risks becoming a safe haven for criminals, according to a large number of leading legal figures in a letter published today.

Writing to the Daily Telegraph, Alistair Morris, President of the Law Society of Scotland, and Andrew Caplen, President of the Law Society of England & Wales, are among 44 signatories who claim that there is "no credible alternative to the EAW".

They join Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, retired President of the UK Supreme Court, Professor Sir David Edward, former President of the European Court of Justice, and many others in urging MPs to opt in to the EAW when the issue is put to Parliment in the next week or so.

Click here to see the terms of the letter, the signatories, and an invitation to legal practitioners and others to add their names to the list.