West MIdlands Police warning on Brexit security threat
West Midlands Police says it fears Brexit will see the force lose access to crucial systems that help snare British crooks abroad and combat terrorism.
A report to the region’s Labour Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, out today, warns of the consequences of not having access to the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS) and the European Arrest Warrant (EAR) after March 2019.
It says: “Brexit may risk putting the UK and the West Midlands in jeopardy if detailed arrangements aren’t put in place to meet the current levels of effective UK-EU cooperation, which are used to help WMP fight terrorism, human trafficking and serious organised crime.
“WMP is concerned that its ability to fight serious and violent crime will be hindered.”
The report says WMP arrested 8,535 foreigners in 2017/18, 4,055 of whom were from the EU. And the force runs the details of an average of 800 suspects a month through the Europol Information System.
Mr Jamieson said crime increasingly takes places across borders, adding: "Data sharing with European bodies is crucial in the fight against terrorism, child sexual exploitation and gun crime.
"There are crucial systems that West Midlands Police is at risk of losing access to. Those systems help to catch serious criminals and keep the public safe. They are used against EU nationals and dangerous UK criminals alike."
The report highlights particular concerns around the EAR post-Brexit, which allows WMP to extradite dangerous criminals to EU countries.
Last year WMP sent 98 criminals back home to be dealt with by their local police forces. Mr Jamieson said: "That ability is at risk in future, which may have an adverse impact on our security and safety."
Eloise Todd, of the George Soros-funded anti-Brexit group Best For Britain, said the report 'should send alarm bells ringing around the country'.
“West Midlands Police rely heavily on crucial EU data-sharing systems such as the Europol Information System, which they use 800 times per month to check suspect details," she said. "They say that's now at risk.
"We cannot send our brave police officers into dangerous situations unequipped."
The Home Office Affairs Committee led an inquiry on the impact of Brexit on policing, concluding that security cooperation should form a central part of the negotiations.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid has called on EU countries to maintain close security ties with the UK or risk a future terror attack.
