Schengen Information System

Wednesday 24th October 2012 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (James Brokenshire)]

The Government have decided not to exercise their right, under protocol 19 to the treaty on the functioning of the European Union (the Schengen protocol) and the treaty on European Union, to opt out of the regulation on migration from the Schengen information system (SIS 1+) to the second generation Schengen information system (SIS II).

The Government have taken this decision in accordance with the commitment in the coalition agreement, which states that we will approach legislation in the area of security and criminal justice on a case-by-case basis, with a view to maximising our country’s security, protecting Britain’s civil liberties and preserving the integrity of our criminal justice system.