Recommendations & Conclusions
18 items
1
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
We welcome the fact that the UK and EU have agreed a new security partnership as part of the agreement of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement. At the time of the inquiry hearings, Brexit had had no discernible operational impact on cross-border policing and the ability to co-operate with partners …
Government response. We have been cooperating with EU Member States via the new arrangements since 1 January, and the indications so far are that, in general, the new arrangements are working well in practice. We are working closely with domestic operational partners …
Northern Ireland Office
2
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
Patterns of behaviour by smugglers and organised crime gangs on the island of Ireland have not changed significantly following the end of the transition period, but there is no room for complacency. We therefore welcome law enforcement and crime agencies’ assurance that the high level of cross-border operational capability has …
Government response. We have been cooperating with EU Member States via the new arrangements since 1 January, and the indications so far are that, in general, the new arrangements are working well in practice. We are working closely with domestic operational partners …
Northern Ireland Office
3
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
Cross-border arrangements providing for effective security co-operation across the Common Travel Area are to the mutual benefit of all on these islands. The importance of bodies and fora such as the Joint Agency Task Force, the Annual Cross-Border Conference on Organised Crime, the Common Travel Area Forum and where appropriate …
Government response. We have been cooperating with EU Member States via the new arrangements since 1 January, and the indications so far are that, in general, the new arrangements are working well in practice. We are working closely with domestic operational partners …
Northern Ireland Office
4
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
The Specialised Committee on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Co-operation will have a crucial role in developing and monitoring the law enforcement, security and criminal justice arrangements in the Trade and Co-operation Agreement. This important work would benefit from the formal input of devolved representatives. When the Specialised Committee is …
Government response. We of course value the perspective of the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to security cooperation on the island of Ireland. We want to engage the Devolved Administrations on a constructive and mutually beneficial basis. However, final discretion in any …
Northern Ireland Office
5
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
We welcome the Surrender agreement agreed as part of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement. Its introduction will avoid the significant delays that might have occurred if the UK and Ireland had been forced to rely on the cumbersome 1957 European Convention on Extradition.
Government response. The extradition arrangements in the TCA are intended to be as fast and effective as those under the European Arrest Warrant, while providing greater safeguards for those who are arrested. The arrangements are based on the exchange of warrants between …
Northern Ireland Office
6
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
The new suspect surrender arrangements agreed between the UK and EU are similar to the EU Surrender Agreement with Norway and Iceland and include many of the features of the European Arrest Warrant. Importantly for co-operation between the UK and Ireland, the new arrangements mean that extradition will continue to …
Government response. The extradition arrangements in the TCA are intended to be as fast and effective as those under the European Arrest Warrant, while providing greater safeguards for those who are arrested. The arrangements are based on the exchange of warrants between …
Northern Ireland Office
7
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
The new extradition arrangements agreed between the UK and EU include some important differences from the European Arrest Warrant. The Trade and Co- operation Agreement introduces a political offence exception and allows states to refuse to extradite their own nationals. There is a requirement to establish double criminality, which can …
Government response. The extradition arrangements in the TCA are intended to be as fast and effective as those under the European Arrest Warrant, while providing greater safeguards for those who are arrested. The arrangements are based on the exchange of warrants between …
Northern Ireland Office
8
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
The UK’s loss of access to SIS II has the potential to create delays in UK law enforcement agencies receiving arrest warrant notices when the location of the suspect is not known, if partner agencies in EU Member States do not routinely enter arrest warrant notices into the Interpol I-24/7 …
Government response. In the absence of SIS II, we have returned to tried and tested mechanisms of cooperation via Interpol and bilateral channels, which we already use with the rest of the world – and which we already used with Ireland as …
Northern Ireland Office
9
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
Over the past two decades, the PSNI and the Gardaí have made great progress in developing co-operation mechanisms to tackle cross-border criminality on the island of Ireland. We are assured that this will continue after Brexit. The structures that have been built up to aid UK and Irish law enforcement …
Government response. We have excellent bilateral cooperation with Member States across the EU – including Ireland - on a wide range of law enforcement and criminal justice issues and we will continue to consider ways to strengthen this. The Government takes a …
Northern Ireland Office
10
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
We are heartened to see an agreement providing for reciprocal transfers of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data. That agreement will help to protect people in Northern Ireland against serious crime and terrorism by allowing UK law enforcement agencies to exchange data on serious criminals with their counterparts in EU Member …
Government response. We have excellent bilateral cooperation with Member States across the EU – including Ireland - on a wide range of law enforcement and criminal justice issues and we will continue to consider ways to strengthen this. The Government takes a …
Northern Ireland Office
11
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
It is positive that the Government has negotiated successfully an agreement with the EU to provide for reciprocal access to biometric data (and in the future vehicle registration data) of suspected criminals. That will help UK law enforcement agencies and law enforcement agencies in connected EU Member States to identify …
Government response. Biometrics data sharing is a vital capability to aid UK Law Enforcement in combating cross-border crime and terrorism. The TCA provides for the continued fast and effective exchange of DNA and fingerprint information with EU partners – including Ireland -using …
Northern Ireland Office
12
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
The PSNI and the Gardaí have developed bilateral mechanisms for sharing operational policing information. The Trade and Co-operation Agreement does not appear to impede the continuing exchange of operational information between UK and Irish law enforcement agencies, but both countries should be ambitious and build on the arrangements already in …
Government response. We have excellent bilateral cooperation with Member States across the EU – including Ireland - on a wide range of law enforcement and criminal justice issues and we will continue to consider ways to strengthen this. The Government takes a …
Northern Ireland Office
13
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
The establishment of UK-CRIS to replace the UK’s participation in the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS) is welcome. Effective policing of the open border on the island of Ireland is assisted by efficient and reliable assessment of criminal records. The 20-day time limit included in the Trade and Co-operation …
Government response. The TCA allows the UK to continue fast and effective exchange of criminal records information with the EU. Criminal Records can be exchanged for law enforcement purposes, including to assist criminal proceedings and for public protection. The TCA provides for …
Northern Ireland Office
14
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
UK law enforcement agencies will continue to have access to Europol through the third-country arrangement negotiated in the Trade and Co-operation Agreement. Access to Europol is important for law enforcement agencies when co-ordinating Europe-wide investigations, particularly when more than two countries are involved in an operation. However, the loss of …
Government response. We have been cooperating with EU Member States via the new arrangements since 1 January, and the indications so far are that, in general, the new arrangements are working well in practice. We are working closely with domestic operational partners …
Northern Ireland Office
15
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
It is welcome that the UK has successfully obtained draft data adequacy decisions from the European Commission. The UK maintaining data adequacy status is key for the continuation of efficient data sharing between the PSNI and the Gardaí, as well as other UK and Irish crime agencies, and the finalising …
Government response. We have always been clear on the importance of high data protection standards in the UK and in the EU. We agree that good data protection underpins international law enforcement cooperation, which is why the UK is firmly committed to …
Northern Ireland Office
16
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
The Committee supports fully the European Convention on Human Rights. We welcome the Government’s assurance, stated at the dispatch box and to this Committee in November 2020 and in March 2021, that it remains “absolutely committed” to the European Convention on Human Rights. The Trade and Co- operation Agreement is …
Government response. We have always been clear on the importance of high data protection standards in the UK and in the EU. We agree that good data protection underpins international law enforcement cooperation, which is why the UK is firmly committed to …
Northern Ireland Office
17
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
The work of the cross-border Joint Agency Task Force to tackle cross-border crime remains important. At a strategic level, the Task Force should meet quarterly rather than biannually, or as operational necessities warrant.
Government response. The Government is keen to encourage cross agency cooperation and looks forward to reviewing any proposed plans from PSNI, Department of Justice and other agencies in advancing a project bringing together all key partners involved in tackling crime in Northern …
Northern Ireland Office
18
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operati…
The PSNI told us that the creation of a bespoke Northern Ireland centre of excellence for law enforcement co-operation and co-ordination would integrate operational and investigative collaboration across law enforcement agencies. Bringing the agencies together under one roof should facilitate rapid and effective investigations. The Government must support the Northern …
Government response. The Government is keen to encourage cross agency cooperation and looks forward to reviewing any proposed plans from PSNI, Department of Justice and other agencies in advancing a project bringing together all key partners involved in tackling crime in Northern …
Northern Ireland Office