Home Secretary has hailed the UK’s new comprehensive security
agreement with the EU that will see the UK continuing to be one
of the safest countries in the world.
A range of fast and effective security capabilities were agreed
with the EU, which will help bear down on criminals and bring
them to justice.
Measures agreed include:
-
streamlined extradition arrangements;
-
an arrangement enabling the fast and
effective exchange of national DNA, fingerprint and vehicle
registration data via the Prüm system to aid law enforcement
agencies in investigating crime and terrorism;
-
continued operational co-operation
with Europol and Eurojust that reflect the
scale of our contribution to these
agencies;
-
arrangements enabling the fast and
effective exchange of criminal records data via shared
technical infrastructure; and
-
arrangements providing for continued
transfers of Passenger Name Record data to protect the public
from serious crime and terrorism.
It is the first time the EU has agreed
such a comprehensive agreement with a third country in this area.
It ensures the UK can work with counterparts across Europe to
tackle serious crime and terrorism, protecting the public and
bringing criminals to justice.
Home Secretary said:
“The safety and security of UK citizens
is the Government’s top priority and the UK will continue to be
one of the safest countries in the world.
“I’m immensely proud of the
comprehensive package of capabilities we’ve agreed with the EU.
It means both sides have effective tools to tackle serious crime
and terrorism, protecting the public and bringing criminals to
justice.
“But we will also seize this historic
opportunity to make the UK safer and more secure through firmer
and fairer border controls.”
The UK is a leader in global security
and will continue to play its part on the international stage to
keep people safe. In addition to the deal, work such as the UK’s
2025 Border Strategy and co-operation with international partners
will ensure we tackle threats as varied as terrorism, organised
crime and illegal migration.
From 1 January 2021, free movement will
end and tougher border rules for EU criminals will come into
force. Under these changes, foreign criminals sentenced to more
than a year in jail will be banned from entering the
UK.
The UK will also make it harder for
criminals to operate and smuggle illicit commodities such as guns
and drugs into the country. From July 2021, the UK will start
receiving advance data on all goods coming from the EU into Great
Britain, something which has not previously been possible under
EU rules.
The UK is also phasing out the use of
insecure identity documents used to enter the UK. From 1 October
2021, the UK will refuse to recognise EEA and Swiss national
identity cards which are some of the most insecure and abused
documents seen at the border and are often used by organised
crime groups.
The Government is also providing the
police with more powers to protect the public. From 1 January
2021, the police will have the power to detain fugitives wanted
by close partner countries immediately without having to apply
for a UK arrest warrant first. This means that criminals will be
brought to justice faster.
