Lords to investigate UK participation in Europol and the European arrest warrant post Brexit
The House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee will continue its short inquiry into the implications of Brexit for future co-operation between the UK and EU on police and security matters on Wednesday 12 October. The Committee will question experts from the National Crime Agency, the Metropolitan Police Service, and the National Police Chiefs' Council.
The UK currently has access to a range of law enforcement tools through its membership of the European Union ranging from the European Arrest Warrant; to databases such as the Schengen Information System and the European Criminal Records Information System, as well as being a member of agencies such as Europol.
In this session, the Committee will examine what aspects of UK-EU police and security co-operation it may be desirable to sustain after Brexit and explore what a future relationship with Europol could look like, as well as what alternatives are available for tools such as the European Arrest Warrant. The Committee will also explore how co-operation is sustained between the European Union and non-EU members and whether the UK could replicate this.
The House of Lords EU Committee and its six Sub-Committees are conducting a coordinated series of short inquiries looking at the key issues that will arise in the forthcoming negotiations on Brexit. Taken as a whole, this programme of work will be the most extensive and thorough parliamentary scrutiny of Brexit.
At 10:30am the Committee will hear evidence from:
- Mr Stephen Rodhouse, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police Service & National Police Chiefs' Council
- Mr David Armond, Deputy Director General, National Crime Agency
At 11:30am the Committee will hear evidence from:
- Lord (Timothy) Kirkhope, former MEP
- Mr Bill Hughes QPM CBE, former Director General, Serious Organised Crime Agency
The Committee is likely to ask:
- Should the UK look to follow Norway and Iceland's approach to the European Arrest Warrant?
- How might Brexit affect the UK's ability to promote and advance its own policy agenda on police and security matters with European partners?
- What would we be losing out on in practical day-to-day terms if the UK loses access to EU law enforcement databases and data-sharing platforms and are there viable alternatives?
- How heavily does the UK rely on EU tools and partners in this area versus how heavily does the EU rely on the UK?
The evidence sessions will take place at 10:30am and 11.30am, Wednesday 12 October, in Committee Room 3 of the House of Lords.
