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Police response depends on what kind of exit UK gets from EU'. Hard Brexit needs: Ex-PSNI DCC Drew Harris is moving resources to the border Date - 27th June 2019 By - Nick Hudson - Police Oracle Additional policing will be needed to patrol the border in the event of a hard Brexit as Ireland’s top officer confirmed resources are “on the move” to beef up security and counter threats from terror and organised crime. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris says he is sending more officers to police the Republic’s side of the divide with Northern Ireland in areas of armed support, roads policing and “general strengths”. Chief Harris, uniquely placed as a police leader who has served at the highest level on both sides of the island of Ireland, told a Dáil parliamentary committee that any police response will depend on "what kind of Brexit we get". The former PSNI deputy chief constable said: "It will depend on the threats that arise. "We are a community-based policing organisation, threats will arise, threats that we cope with at the moment and have coped with in the past." He added that in the event of a hard border, organised crime will increase. He said: "The issue of organised crime, as tariffs diverge, there will be more and more opportunities then to smuggle over the border, and that will require a response. "Also then the threat from terrorism, we have to see, we don't know the severity of the issues that may arise. "Even just looking at the situation (at the border) at the moment, with the ATM robberies, smuggling, and other crime, it is prudent for us to make sure the border is well resourced. "We're moving resources there, with armed support and roads policing and general strengths of that area." The EU, and the Irish republic have been steadfast that the re-emergence of a hard border could have catastrophic effect on both Northern Ireland and the Republic. They argued any customs or regulatory border would have a devastating impact on the economy of the island, with concerns flagged about the security issues and political fallout from the re-emergence of a border on the island. The backstop was a fundamental requirement of any exit deal struck with the UK. Brussels and Dublin demanded the mechanism in phase one, to guarantee the border would always remain open. Brussels was also determined to protect the integrity of its single market, amid fears an open land border with the UK could see goods which do not meet Brussels' regulations enter freely into the 27 member states View On Police Oracle

Road to new legislation is far from smooth for campaigners The chaos that has engulfed Parliament amid Brexit may hinder the progress of eagerly awaited draft laws which would enhance legal protection for officers who pursue helmetless moped riders. The Police Federation for England and Wales (PFEW) cautiously welcomed the news last May that the Home Office was drafting legislation to ensure skilled police drivers are “protected”. PFEW was awaiting the results of the government’s consultation when it received the news there will no longer be time in the parliamentary diary because Brexit-related work must take priority. Instead, the Home Office hopes the same ends will be achieved through Sir Henry Bellingham’s Emergency Response Drivers private members bill. It was originally introduced as a ten-minute bill in December 2017 but was shelved after government objections in March. The bill was due to have its second reading on November 23 but Sir Christopher Chope, who is notorious for blocking private member’s bill on principle, raised an objection. Sir Christopher invoked the ire of activists earlier this year when he blocked the progress of a bill to make upskirting a separate offence and Finn’s Law, which would increase the penalties for those who injure police animals. This, however, did not stop him submitting several of his own private members bills last month. The Emergency Response Drivers Bill second reading has been rescheduled to March. PFEW Pursuits Lead Tim Rogers, who has been campaigning to change the law for more than seven years, told Police Oracle the government has some concerns the bill will not match the issues covered in the consultation and that it will include ambulance and fire engine drivers, who are not trained to the same standard as police officers. He said: “If you compare officers to the careful and competent drivers standard the techniques they use are illegal. “The deal officers get is 'as long nothing goes wrong that’s fine and we won’t do anything about it but when something does happen you’re on your own'. “Roads policing officers are highly trained professionals who go to work and carry out these manoeuvres every day but that isn’t recognised in law. “It’s just stupid. “Even the IOPC came out and said officers shouldn’t be compared to the careful and competent drivers standard.” Mr Rogers said Policing Minister Nick Hurd had given himself and PFEW chairman John Apter personal assurances last week he remained committed to the issue and will soon issue a ministerial statement confirming this is the case. It is still hoped the bill will gain Royal Assent by 2019/2020, he said. A Home Office spokesman said: “We recognise the difficult job that police drivers do every day to keep road users and the wider public safe. “That’s why we have worked closely with the Police Federation, other government departments and groups representing road users and those advocating road safety to review the law, guidance, procedures and processes surrounding police pursuits. “Ministers are expecting soon to be in a position to announce the next steps following the consultation. This will be subject to final clearance across government.” View on Police Oracle

Scenario risks increasing pressure on law enforcement. Date - 28th November 2018 By - Hayden Smith and Ian Weinfass The UK will lose access to EU databases used by police to track terrorists and criminals in the event of a no-deal Brexit, according to an official analysis. The paper provides the most detailed government assessment to date of the potential impact on security and law enforcement ties if no agreement is struck. Agencies would no longer be plugged in to systems for exchanging a raft of data including criminal records, alerts on wanted suspects, DNA, fingerprints and airline passenger information. Extradition requests would take longer, while cooperation on counter-terrorism, cyber security and illegal migration would be affected. The assessment, published by the Department for Exiting the European Union, said: "A no deal scenario would not provide the same levels of capabilities envisaged in the deal scenario - many of which would require formal agreements with the EU - and would risk increasing pressure on UK security, law enforcement and judicial authorities. "In the event of no deal, the UK would no longer have any access to EU data platforms, or have guaranteed channels for obtaining law enforcement information." If an agreement is not reached, there will be no implementation period after the UK formally departs the bloc in March. The paper said: "This means that any operational cooperation that relies on EU tools and instruments at the point of exit, would stop. "This would create immediate legal and operational uncertainty with the risk of operational disruption and potential security implications." Under the terms of the draft agreement, the two sides have committed to establishing a "broad" and "comprehensive" security partnership. But in a no deal scenario, Britain would face losing access to: A scheme for sharing air passenger data such as names, travel dates and contact details The Prum system, which facilitates fast exchange of DNA and fingerprint data The Second Generation Schengen Information System (SIS II), which circulates millions of law enforcement alerts in real time The European Criminal Record Information System, which enables automated exchange of criminal record data The assessment also flagged up the potential impact on cooperation in a number of "thematic areas". On efforts to counter terror and violent extremism, it said: "In a no deal scenario, it would be harder for the UK and the EU to work strategically to tackle these evolving threats." Effective action on illegal migration would be more difficult with no formal arrangements in place, the paper added. It made clear the government would seek to "mitigate the effects of a no deal scenario on the UK's security". In a "deal scenario", operational cooperation will continue largely as it does now during the implementation period, the analysis said. Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who chairs the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said: "This assessment makes clear the substantial security risks from no deal, but it does absolutely nothing to tell us what the security risks are in the Prime Minister's deal. This isn't being honest with everyone." Liberal Democrat Ed Davey said: “Theresa May keeps telling us she’ll work out a wonderful new security agreement before the transition period ends, but she has completely failed to make any progress whatsoever over the last two years. “The Liberal Democrats demand better for our police and our communities. That’s why we are fighting to give the people the final say on the deal, including the option to exit from Brexit.” View On Police Oracle

Home Office says it is planning for all possible scenarios. Matthew Scott, Lord Willy Bach and Martyn Underhill Date - 8th August 2018 By - Ian Weinfass - Police Oracle 11 Comments Police and crime commissioners are warning of the risk to public safety from a no deal Brexit. Conservative, Labour and independent representatives said they have discussed the issue with the National Crime Agency and National Police Chiefs’ Council and fear what could happen without agreement between the UK and EU. They have written to Home Secretary Sajid Javid to confirm the Home Office has developed a contingency plan for a no deal Brexit. The letter was discussed at a national PCC meeting in mid-July and sent last week. It is signed by Tory Matthew Scott, Labour’s Lord Willy Bach, and independent Martin Underhill. It says: “We understand that considerable additional resource would be required for policing to operate using non-EU tools and that such tools would be sub-optimal - potentially putting operational efficiency and public safety at risk." It continues: "There are 32 Law Enforcement and National Security Measures [Lens] that are used on a daily basis in an operational policing context. "Unless the government is able to negotiate the retention of these measures following the UK's withdrawal from the EU, police and law enforcement agencies face a significant loss of operational capacity. "As police and crime commissioners, we are increasingly concerned that such a loss of capacity could pose significant risks to our local communities." They add that Brexit negotiations come at a time when the threat from foreign national offenders targeting the UK from abroad is increasing. They also say that with the implementation period unlikely to be known until October this year, the five-month window until the end of March 2019 is "likely to be very challenging". They have asked for a meeting with the Home Secretary to discuss "preparations, contingencies and the financial implications of post-Brexit policing". In 2016 Sir Hugh Orde revealed on Police Oracle that chiefs had analysed the impact of leaving the EU in 2013 and identified 13 elements “without which we would struggle to protect citizens in this country”. A Home Office spokesman said: "There is widespread recognition that the UK and EU can most effectively combat security threats when we work together. It is important we maintain operational capabilities after Brexit - and we will continue to make this case to the European Commission. "We are confident that an ambitious agreement on future security cooperation can be reached — but it is the duty of any responsible government to prepare for every eventuality, including no deal. "With that in mind, we are working closely with operational partners on contingency planning so we can ensure the safety and security of our citizens in all scenarios.” View On Police Oracle

No-deal on security would force officers to file individual requests for data on suspects. Cressida Dick The country's top police officer admits she has concerns the force’s investigations will be handicapped post-Brexit if the United Kingdom loses access to the Europol database. This week MPS Commissioner Cressida Dick said her force’s counter-terror capability is in “very very good shape” but is seeing an upswing in right-wing inspired extremist plots being disrupted at the London Assembly’s Police and Crime panel meeting. She said police are not involved in Brexit negotiations but she is trying to plan for future arrangements which could supersede full membership to Europol and to “understand more about how they could work”. “We are big users of a lot of the instruments. We are big contributors to Europol. It is likely that if we are unable to access the same things in the same way that we do now it will be clunkier, clumsier and more expensive in any replacement system. “So it’s important for us in keeping London safe to be able to have access but we fully understand it has become an important part of negotiating between the various parties which is nothing to do with us. “We have enjoyed sitting on the board of Europol and we have 40 something subject matter UK experts at Europol at the moment. We use the arrest warrant a very very huge amount. And all these things are reciprocal. “We believe other European countries have very much benefitted from our involvement, not least of course in terms of countering terrorism. “We will work with whatever we get in the future of course.” Sophie Linden, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime added the “thought of not being able to use the information sharing or be in Europol is incredibly worrying”. Ms Linden said she has personally lobbied Secretary of State for Brexit David Davis on the issue together with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. “It does not feel they are getting very far at the moment,” she said. “It is incredibly concerning and when the commissioner talks about it being a little bit clunkier what that will mean is at the moment officers can interrogate databases when they come across individuals. It will mean they have to ring up and get them one by one. “That isn’t clunkier when you think about the thousands of times it is being used. Security is really at threat around Brexit unless they really get to the point of making a deal and keeping us in all these arrangements.” Earlier this week former Europol director Sir Rob Wainwright told the Home Affairs Committee no deal on Europol would be “unthinkable.” Despite EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier’s public assertions it would be “impossible” for the UK to stay in the European Arrest Warrant, Sir Rob was so relaxed about the future of the UK’s access to Europol MPs asked him why he wasn’t “more worried”. Sir Rob said politicians may be “closer than they appear” on the issue. He said: “Maybe I’m less worried than you because when I left Europol I was more assured of how the system was working toward some kind of deal. “I think we should be worried if reach a point of no deal on security. That will certainly have an adverse ability to fight crime and terrorism. “It’s still likely that there is an expectation there will be a cooperation.” View On Police Oracle