‘Super hub’ plan to catch international crime gangs
POLICE chiefs are in talks to create a post-Brexit law enforcement super hub.
The International Policing Unit, run by the National Crime Agency, would aim to catch foreign criminals operating on British soil.
The new team would target crossborder criminal gangs and Home Secretary Priti Patel is said to be supportive of the idea.
Chiefs have presented the Home Office with several proposals over the super hub, which could be up and running as early as autumn.
Talks
The move would also assist officers in obtaining police and judicial records from overseas under one umbrella organisation.
The Daily Express understands the idea was first floated by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Martin, who led the National Police Chiefs’ Council preparations for Brexit.
It is understood he came up with the plan with Steve Rodhouse, director general of operations at the National Crime Agency.
A police source said the final details are yet to be decided as there have
“early discussions”. Ministers and law enforcement bodies are also holding talks on improving cooperation between police forces around the world. The Home Office said: “The UK is at the forefront of international law enforcement cooperation, working with partners around the world to protect people and bring perpetrators to justice.
“We continue to look at how we can improve our ability to cooperate with international policing partners to tackle crime and protect the public.”
Ms Patel has insisted Brexit will not lead to an increase in security threats or crime abroad. Withdrawing from the EU means British police will no longer have unrestricted access to the European policing database and use of European Arrest Warrants.
From July, the UK will receive advance data on goods arriving from the EU, something not possible under EU rules. Officials expect this will allow them to detect more guns and drugs being smuggled into the UK. only been