Football fans arrested abroad 'should be read their rights in one of 22 languages' Football fans and other tourists arrested outside their home country would have to be given their legal rights in their mother tongue under proposed new European rules.

Police across the European Union would be required to provide suspects with a letter in one of 22 languages explaining their basic rights during criminal proceedings, according to new European Commission plans.

"Most of you have seen American police series. You probably recall that the police officer reads the rights to the suspect," said Viviane Reding, 

Justice Commissioner.

"Now we are going to have not a movie, but the reality in Europe," she said.

She gave the example of a football fan who was arrested after a match in another EU state but was not informed of the charges against him, had to share an interpreter with other suspects, and was condemned.

"The situation could have been avoided had he received a letter of rights directly after he was arrested," she said.

Telegraph

"Why is this important? Because there is such a huge amount of inconsistency in Europe."

The proposal, which must be approved by the EU parliament and national ministers of justice, aims to prevent miscarriages of justice and reduce the number of appeals across the 27-nation bloc.

She said that led to very long appeals, higher costs for court proceedings and uncertainty for individuals about their rights.

Twelve EU states already provide a "letter of rights" to suspects, with Germany offering them in 48 languages.

Six states explain the rights orally while the rest use "different ways."

"Getting arrested is a very stressful, emotional experience and imagine you do not know also about your rights," she said. "The letter of rights will change this."

The letter would inform suspects of basic rights such as the right to an attorney and an interpreter, the right to be told why they are being arrested and how long they can be detained for.

She said that officers would print out copies of the letter downloaded online at police stations.

Telegraph