Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Leslie Excerpts

Monday 6th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Amber Rudd]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The use of data is critical in our fight against cross-border crime and terrorism, and will always remain a priority for us. We value the co-operation that we have at present through the European Criminal Records Information System and the Schengen Information System. We want our future relationship with the EU to include practical arrangements so that we can engage with it on that basis, and I can reassure my hon. Friend that that is also what our EU partners want.

[Chris Leslie (Nottingham East) (Lab/Co-op)]

The Home Secretary’s predecessor, now the Prime Minister, said that ditching the European arrest warrant would make Britain

“a honeypot for all of Europe’s criminals on the run from justice”.

Can the Home Secretary guarantee that we will continue to participate in European arrest warrant co-operation?

[Amber Rudd]

I certainly agree with the principle that the European arrest warrant is an effective tool that is essential to the delivery of effective judgment on the murderers, rapists and paedophiles on whom we have managed to seek judgment. It is a priority for us to ensure that we remain part of the arrangement, and I can reassure Members in all parts of the House that our European partners want to achieve that as well.