MEP’s fears over lack of police co-operation

EU opt-out ‘would hit crimefighting’
Oldham Euro-MP Chris Davies has warned that plans for the Government to opt out of cooperation with crimefighting agencies across Europe could lead to thousands of criminals going undetected.

Police forces currently share criminal data to improve the chances of convicting serious offenders.

Home Secretary Theresa May has proposed the UK should pull out of the cross-border measures, amid opposition from the Liberal Democrats and a cross-party committee in the House of Lords.

Liberal Democrat MEP Chris, who represents the North-West, claims cooperation between police forces has led to the detection and prosecution of hundreds of serious criminals, including murderers, rapists and paedophiles.

He said: “Tens of millions of people travel across national borders each year and criminals are among them. Encouraging crimefighting agencies to work closely together is exactly what the European Union should be doing. Conservatives and UKIP seem to prefer to pick a fight with the EU and risk criminals walking free rather than encouraging police officers here to work closely with continental colleagues.”