No deal could lead to foreign crime suspects absconding, police chief warns

POLICE could be powerless to arrest foreign crime suspects on the spot if Britain loses access to European databases and agreements after Brexit, a senior officer has warned.

According to Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Martin, who is the national policing lead for Brexit, even when checks show that an individual is wanted overseas, they could not be detained until a warrant is obtained from the courts.

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

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.”

Mr Martin went on to suggest that there was 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.

Asked if the UK would be less safe, he replied: “Yes. I think there is a risk. But he added: “Is the UK going to turn into criminal gangs running amok? No. I don’t think we will become a country of choice for crime. Policing is not going to stop.

“We are going to build up the capability as best we can but we will be much more limited than we currently are.”