11
Accepted
It is positive that the Government has negotiated successfully an agreement with the EU to...
Recommendation
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 terrorists and organised criminals. The Government should set out if, and how, it plans to use these arrangements to co-operate on sharing biometric data with Ireland in particular.
Government Response Summary
The government details that it already cooperates on biometric data sharing with Ireland via the Prüm mechanism, with DNA data exchanges in place since March 2020, and is working on implementing vehicle registration data exchanges under the TCA.
Paragraph Reference
81
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
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 the Prüm mechanism which was in place before the end of the Transition Period. Future exchanges of vehicle registration data are also provided for through the TCA and we are working on implementing that connection. The Prüm arrangements significantly speed up information sharing and enhance the ability of UK authorities to keep citizens safe. We currently share DNA data under Prüm with 12 EU Member States, including Ireland, with whom we connected in March 2020.
Source
Committee
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Report
Fourth Report - Cross-border co-operation on policing, security and criminal justice after Brexit
28 Apr 2021
HC 766
Addressee Bodies
Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Office
Timeline
Recommendation age
5.3 yrs
Report published
28 Apr 2021