Police may have to work without EU ‘tools’ under no-deal Brexit

POLICE could be powerless to arrest foreign crime suspects on the spot if Britain loses access to European databases and agreements after Brexit.

Even when checks show an individual is wanted overseas, they could not be detained until a warrant is obtained from the courts, a senior officer warned.

He raised concerns that suspected offenders could disappear if forces have to rely on measures that are slower and more bureaucratic than the existing arrangements.

It was also revealed that police estimate the loss of EU tools will result in costs of around £20m a year.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Martin, the national policing lead for Brexit, said that currently if an officer carries out a “name check” on someone they encounter, it is automat-

ically run through both UK and European databases.

In the same scenario but without the EU tools, the officer would have to check a separate Interpol system.

Mr Martin said: “If that comes back with what they call a red notice, which is where somebody is wanted, we would then have to go to a magistrates’ court to get a warrant to go and arrest that person. We could not arrest that person in front of us.”

There have been warnings that checks on an EU national’s criminal history could take 10 times longer in a no-deal scenario, rising from an average of six days currently to 66.

Mr Martin suggested there is a “real risk” individuals could abscond.

“If they know they are likely to be incarcerated or charged, then I think that’s a very real possibility,” he said.