Thousands of foreign criminals ‘may flee’

THOUSANDS of foreign criminals could abscond if Britain leaves the EU without a deal, it is claimed.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Martin, who leads the National Police Chiefs’ Council on Brexit, said foreign offenders on UK streets could flee as officers would have to wait for a court hearing to get permission to make an arrest.

It would then take 66 days to get criminal records from the EU, instead of an average of six days at present. Currently, officers can find out within minutes if people are wanted in Britain or Europe. Police made 539million checks to see if a suspect had a criminal record in 2017. About 17 per cent of arrested suspects are foreign.

Mr Martin said police would be powerless to compel EU forces to look for British fugitives abroad. It is estimated the loss of EU crime information systems will cost police £20million a year.