Prüm Business and Implementation Case

Thursday 26th November 2015 Written Statements

[The Minister for Immigration (James Brokenshire)]

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has today laid before the House the “Prüm Business and Implementation Case”, (Cm 9149), which concludes that rejoining the Prüm decisions (EU Council decision 2008/615/JHA and its implementing decision, 2008/616/JHA, in conjunction with Council framework decision 2009/905/JHA) would be in the national interest as it would help us to identify foreign criminals and solve serious crimes. This is also the view of law enforcement throughout the United Kingdom, and is based on evidence from those countries already operating the Prüm decisions and a successful small-scale pilot. It also makes clear that stringent safeguards would be put in place in implementing the Prüm decisions, meaning that no fingerprint or DNA profiles relating to innocent British citizens would be used in implementing the measures and that higher UK scientific standards would be appl ied. An oversight board, including the biometrics and information commissioners, would oversee the domestic operation of the Prüm decisions.

[HCWS336]