"British Rights for British citizens" - Allister
26 September 2006
Speaking in the European Parliament against a Commission proposal for recognition in one EU country of criminal convictions in another, DUP MEP Jim Allister claimed it would expose British subjects to the findings and vagaries of ropey foreign criminal justice systems. A conviction abroad, no matter how dubious, like that of the British plane-spotters in Greece, would now count against a British citizen, subsequently appearing in a local court, as if it arose under our own tried and trusted system, with all its robust safeguards, protested the Ulster QC.
In the course of his remarks Jim Allister said:-
"Like many EU harmonising proposals there is a certain simplistic and plausible appeal to mutual recognition of criminal convictions throughout the Community. But, make no mistake, it is part of the grand design for an integrated and EU controlled criminal justice system, requiring subservience of our national systems.
Criminal justice matters are intrinsically national issues and must remain so, hence I welcome the resistance at last Friday's Council of Ministers to further surrender of the national veto. I hope it will be sustained.
Not only because of my opposition to the grand design of which it is a part, but because it diminishes the protection of my constituents against unfairness, I will oppose this proposal. The savage experience of British citizens abroad confirms me in the view that we have much to lose from criminal justice integration. Remember the spectacle made of the British plane-spotters in Greece and the appalling conviction of Kevin Sweeney in Holland. Why should ropey convictions, secured by lesser standards than those applicable in the UK, be capable of being held against UK citizens in their own country? I say they should not and, therefore, I oppose this proposal. British standards for British citizens is my watchword."
