Lords to question Crown Prosecution Service on UK security after Brexit

UK participation in the European Arrest Warrant has enabled to the UK to extradite criminals to face justice in the UK. It is unclear whether the UK will retain access to this and other tools after Brexit, as well as to databases such as the European Criminal Records Information System and agencies such as Eurojust.

The focus of this session will be to examine the practical consequences of exiting the European Union and what the operational priorities of the Crown Prosecution Service are as to what tools it would be worth retaining or replacing. The Committee will cover topics such as whether an extradition agreement with the EU could be possible and what security measures it would be beneficial to maintain.

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 11:30am the Committee will hear evidence from:

• Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions, Crown Prosecution Service

The Committee is likely to ask:

• What sort of extradition agreement with the EU would meet the needs of the Crown Prosecution Service?
• How long might it take to negotiate a new relationship with Eurojust?
• Is there an alternative model for the UK's future relationship with Eurojust that the Government should consider pursuing?
• Where do Joint Investigation Teams fit in – is the framework that already exists for Joint Investigation Teams involving Norway, Switzerland and Iceland suitable for the UK?

The evidence session will take place at 11:30am on Wednesday 2 November in Committee Room 3 of the House of Lords.