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Brexit: Police warn of ‘major operational impact’ when UK loses access to EU crime databases in January

Key information systems will be lost even if a security deal is struck before 31 December, National Crime Agency says
Key information systems will be lost even if a security deal is struck before 31 December, National Crime Agency says

Brexit: Police warn of ‘major operational impact’ when UK loses access to EU crime databases in January (The Independent, link):

“Police have confirmed that the UK will lose access to EU databases used millions of times a year post-Brexit, warning of a “major operational impact”.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said the alternatives, which were initially drawn up as a contingency plan in the event of no-deal, were all slower and less efficient.

In a letter to parliament’s Home Affairs Committee, chair Martin Hewitt said: “The loss of some or all of the tools will mean that, even with contingencies in place, the fallback systems will be slower, provide less visibility of information/intelligence and make joined up working with European partners more cumbersome.”

Negotiations over a potential security deal continue but the National Crime Agency (NCA) said that even if an agreement is struck, access will still be lost to vital databases and legal mechanisms.”