Cross-border co-operation on policing, security and criminal justice after Brexit

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 7 Sep 2020 Closed: 6 Jul 2021 Parliament page
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry that will examine post-Brexit cross-border co-operation on policing, security and criminal justice between the UK and Ireland. The new inquiry will examine the implications of Brexit for cross-border criminal activity and will identify barriers to co-operation from January 2021, including if … Read more
10 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Letters
7 Events
Activity timeline 15 events
9 Sep
2021
Correspondence
9 Sep
2021
Correspondence
5 Jul
2021
Report published
28 Apr
2021
Report published
17 Mar
2021
Correspondence
17 Mar
2021
Correspondence
17 Mar
2021
Correspondence
3 Mar
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
27 Jan
2021
Correspondence
27 Jan
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
13 Jan
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
25 Nov
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operation on policing, security … HC 766 28 Apr 2021 18 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
18 results
1 Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
We welcome the fact that the UK and EU have agreed a new security partnership...
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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2 Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
Patterns of behaviour by smugglers and organised crime gangs on the island of Ireland have...
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’ … Read more
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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3 Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
Cross-border arrangements providing for effective security co-operation across the Common Travel Area are to the...
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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4 Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
The Specialised Committee on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Co-operation will have a crucial role...
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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5 Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
We welcome the Surrender agreement agreed as part of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement.
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 … Read more
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. … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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6 Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
The new suspect surrender arrangements agreed between the UK and EU are similar to the...
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 … Read more
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. … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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7 Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
The new extradition arrangements agreed between the UK and EU include some important differences from...
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. … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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8 Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
The UK’s loss of access to SIS II has the potential to create delays in...
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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9 Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
Over the past two decades, the PSNI and the Gardaí have made great progress in...
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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10 Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
We are heartened to see an agreement providing for reciprocal transfers of Passenger Name Record...
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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11 Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
It is positive that the Government has negotiated successfully an agreement with the EU to...
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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12 Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
The PSNI and the Gardaí have developed bilateral mechanisms for sharing operational policing information.
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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13 Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
The establishment of UK-CRIS to replace the UK’s participation in the European Criminal Records Information...
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. … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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14 Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
UK law enforcement agencies will continue to have access to Europol through the third-country arrangement...
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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15 Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
It is welcome that the UK has successfully obtained draft data adequacy decisions from the...
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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16 Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
The Committee supports fully the European Convention on Human Rights.
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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17 Conclusion
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
The work of the cross-border Joint Agency Task Force to tackle cross-border crime remains important.
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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18 Recommendation
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-op…
The PSNI told us that the creation of a bespoke Northern Ireland centre of excellence...
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 … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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Correspondence 6 letters
9 Sep 2021 Correspondence from the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, relating to Cross-border co-operation on policing, security and criminal justice after Brexit, 3 August 2021
Parliament page
9 Sep 2021 Correspondence to the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, relating to Cross-border co-operation on policing, security and criminal justice after Brexit, 14 July 2021
Parliament page
17 Mar 2021 Correspondence from the Senior Director of Border Force, relating to Passenger Locator Forms, 11 March 2021
Parliament page
17 Mar 2021 Correspondence from the Senior Director of Border Force, relating to Passenger Locator Forms, 16 February 2021
Parliament page
17 Mar 2021 Correspondence to the Senior Director of Border Force, relating to Passenger Locator Forms, 24 February 2021
Parliament page
27 Jan 2021 Correspondence from the Minister of State for Northern Ireland, relating to Cross-Border Security, 19-01-2021
Parliament page