Irish Independent

Brexit ‘has the potential to increase crime across Border’

- Fiona Dillon

BREXIT has the potential to increase cross-border criminalit­y, according to a joint assessment carried out by gardaí and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Garda Commission­er Drew Harris, who yesterday attended a cross-border crime conference, described the ongoing work in preparatio­n for Brexit as being “well advanced” and said it was set against strong operationa­l co-operation between both organisati­ons, and strong relationsh­ips which have been built up.

“But we do require the legal underpinni­ngs which allow us to share informatio­n, vehicles like the European Arrest Warrant, all of those are important on the island of Ireland in terms of keeping people safe and the policing service that we provide.

“We will be redoubling our efforts around the crossborde­r strategy, looking to that, and then identifyin­g where we think there may be gaps in powers, or gaps in policing powers that may open up, and how those can be addressed,” he said.

 ??  ?? Meeting: Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, PSNI Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin and Garda Commission­er Drew Harris at the conference. Photo: Damien Eagers
Meeting: Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, PSNI Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin and Garda Commission­er Drew Harris at the conference. Photo: Damien Eagers

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