WE should all be concerned by the case of the British plane-spotters arrested in Greece if our Government gets its way over the proposed new European Union arrest warrant.

The New-Labour control-freaks are rushing to implement all sorts of laws under the smoke screen of "anti terrorist" measures, following the September 11 atrocities. Most of these measures have little to do with preventing further terrorist attacks but everything to do with harmonising EU laws to create a unified European state (without, of course, bothering to consult the British people).

Under the new EU-wide arrest warrant, the plane-spotters, even once back to Britain, would be liable to immediate extradition on the request of a Greek judge. No evidence would be required; indeed the alleged offence would not even have to be illegal under English law. So, for instance, you could be deported for jokingly making a Nazi salute, which is an offence in Germany.

Most of the other EU countries operate a system of arrest on suspicion and have no tradition of Habeas Corpus; so that a suspect can languish in jail for a very long time while the state prosecutor "constructs" a case against them.

The other very disturbing aspect of the Anti-Terrorism, Security and Crime Bill is article 109. This would allow all future EU justice and home affairs issues to be passed through our Parliament by secondary legislation. Therefore, wide-ranging issues of law and order would receive no debate at all in Parliament, and would simply be passed by the 15 justice ministers of the EU, behind closed doors.

Can any of your other readers remember when they were last consulted on the future of the European Union?

I think it was in 1975, when we were asked if we wanted to remain in a "Common Market", which was supposed to be a free trade association. Why does a trade association need its own parliament, legal system, citizens, flag, anthem, army, police force, embassies, single currency, etc?

R G Spencer, 69 Court Road, Malvern.