Bringing

Criminals

To Justice

Unlike extradition, which involves a huge amount of bureaucracy, the European Arrest Warrant system allows for police across Europe to issue simple arrest warrants for suspected criminals at a local level.

Traditionally, extradition requires political involvement , something that prevents its use for all but the most serious crimes. The EAW allows for people who have been sentenced to 4 months in prison or people that face 12 months or more if found guilty to be arrested and returned to the country of the crime with a minimum of fuss.

Not only are run-away criminals returned to face prison, it is also a valuable way that police share information, allowing fugitives to be quickly found and removed from the general population at a scale that cannot be achieved with existing extradition treaties outside the EU.