FOREWORD
At the Meeting of Commonwealth Law Ministers, held at Marlborough House, London, from 26th April to 3rd May 1966, the arrangements for the extradition of fugitive offenders within the Commonwealth were reviewed in the light of the constitutional changes which have taken place since the passing of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1881.
The following extract from the communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Meeting explains the purpose of the Scheme, the text of which is reproduced at pages 1-8:-
"The Meeting considered that Commonwealth extradition arrange- ments should be based upon reciprocity and substantially uniform legis- lation incorporating certain features commonly found in extradition treaties, e.g. a list of returnable offences, the establishment of a prima facie case before return, and restrictions on the return of political offenders.
The Meeting accordingly formulated a Scheme setting out principles which could form the basis of legislation within the Commonwealth and recommended that effect should be given to the Scheme in each Commonwealth country. The Scheme does not apply to Southern Rhodesia ".
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