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England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court) Decisions |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> England and Wales High Court (Administrative Court) Decisions >> Pink v Regional Court In Elblag (Poland) [2021] EWHC 1238 (Admin) (11 May 2021) URL: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2021/1238.html Cite as: [2021] EWHC 1238 (Admin) |
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QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION
ADMINISTRATIVE COURT
Strand, London, WC2A 2LL |
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B e f o r e :
____________________
PIOTR PINK |
Appellant |
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- and – |
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REGIONAL COURT IN ELBLĄG (POLAND) |
Respondent |
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TOM HOSKINS (instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service) for the Respondent
Hearing dates: 27 April 2021
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Crown Copyright ©
MR JUSTICE CHAMBERLAIN:
Introduction
(a) extradition would constitute a disproportionate interference with the appellant's rights under Article 8 ECHR and is therefore barred by s. 21 (ground 1);
(b) the EAW contains insufficient particulars of the offence to satisfy the requirement in s. 2(6) (ground 2);
(c) the offences of which the appellant was convicted are not extradition offences within s. 10 (ground 3);
(d) legislation relating to the appointment and tenure of judges in Poland means that the Polish judicial authority is no longer to be regarded as sufficiently independent and impartial to be regarded as a "judicial authority" for the purposes of s. 2 (ground 4).
The history of the case
District Judge Mallon's judgment
"23. It is abundantly clear from his own evidence that the RP has been well aware of the sentence has passed, the offences to which they relate and that duration. He was represented at the hearing. The sentences were amalgamated at his own request. He knew when he returned to the UK in 2015 that there was still a sentence outstanding for which a request could be made.
24. It was asserted on behalf of the RP that he is of good character in the UK. That is not the case. He received a caution from the Metropolitan Police for shop theft on 04/07/07. It is not the most serious matter, of course, but the RP is not entitled to assert he is of good character in the UK."
"Clearly the article 8 rights of the requested person, his partner, son and extended family are engaged. His partner, son and nephew will all suffer a degree of financial hardship were he to be extradited. Whilst not losing contact completely, it is unlikely that the RP would be able to maintain daily telephone contact with his son, so to that extent, his son would also suffer. The RP's business would not be continued in his absence. He would have to rebuild it upon his return. His workers would, however be able to find alternative employment. He is not a man of good character in the UK. I find that his financial situation (and by extension, that of his partner) is more secure than he admitted in evidence. His position now vis-à-vis his Article 8 situation is better than it was when he was, nevertheless, previously extradited."
The applications to admit fresh evidence
The Polish judicial authority's application
"Allowing a respondent to submit further evidence in support of the district judge's findings, far from delaying a matter, would often if not usually expedite it: it would avoid the situation where an EAW is discharged on the basis of some defect that could be cured by the provision of further information, only to be reissued with that information included. Nor do I accept that an appellant has less than a full opportunity to present evidence in relation to an EAW – that opportunity, given equally to both parties, arises before the district judge. Furthermore, if information were to be provided by the respondent which, the court considers, it is in the interests of justice to admit, the court would be likely to conclude that it would be in the interests of justice also to admit evidence in response or rebuttal. The statutory provisions merely avoid a party that loses before the district judge – whether that party be requested person or requesting authority – having a second bite of the cherry. They are therefore supportive of the principle of finality, and generally of the broad principles that underlie the Framework Directive. It is not contrary to the letter or spirit of article 6 of the ECHR, or the common law requirements for a fair trial, to allow a party on an appeal to submit further information in support of a decision of the district judge where (for example) that information might confirm a finding of fact made by the district judge, whilst proscribing an unsuccessful party from submitting further evidence in support of the proposition he was wrong."
The appellant's application
Ground 1
Submissions for the appellant
Submissions for the Respondent
Discussion
"Although Mr Pink tells me that he came to this country to work, it is an inescapable conclusion that he knew that he was to serve a prison sentence and failed to surrender himself for that purpose. He did not provide the Polish authorities with his UK address, even in the appeal proceedings. He was living with a different identity, and his PNC details show an alias name and yet another date of birth. It is clear from his comments to the officer on his arrest and from his evidence to me that he was very well aware of the outstanding sentence and the expectation that he would serve it."
Grounds 2 and 3
Conclusion