THE case of the plane spotters currently waiting trial in Greece raises concerns over the plans for a European-wide arrest warrant.

It may have seemed at first, that reports that plane-spotters had been arrested in Greece on suspicion of spying to have been a joke.

But nearly four weeks later, it is clear to everyone that the case is no laughing matter, and that serious issues have been raised.

In particular the plan for an EU-wide arrest warrant.

The idea is simple you're wanted for something you've done in one country, so the police in another European region/country can arrest you without a long involved legal process.

The determination is now that agreement should be reached on implementing this warrant scheme by the time of the EU leaders' summit in Laeken, Belgium, on December 15.

However, the warrant scheme will cover much more than just terrorism. It will be a complete replacement for extradition, and while certain exceptions have been agreed such as anti-globalisation protesters in general it will apply to offences for which the potential sentence is 12 months or more.

Sarah de Mas, from Fair Trial Abroad, believes that the case of the plane-spotters highlights weaknesses in the scheme.

"The fear of the European arrest warrant is that here is a judge who is not acting in accordance with the minimum standards of the European Convention on Human Rights," she said. "The defendants had not been charged within seven days of arrest, the magistrate had accepted there was no evidence against them but kept them in custody, and hearings were held in private," she said.

Fair Trials Abroad was concerned that under the proposed scheme, the plane-spotters would not have been safe even if they had come home.

"If it comes into place, the magistrate could issue an arrest warrant for some future date, and any of the defendants could be whisked back to Greece without any foundation for their arrest. That's what we're worried about," she said.

MICHAEL MORTON

UK Independence Party

Rodbourne

Swindon