Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the UK withdrawing from participation in (a) the European Arrest Warrant, (b) membership of Europol and (c) membership of EuroJust on the work of the CPS in prosecuting international crime.

The Crown Prosecution Service (‘CPS’) has worked with other prosecutors, law enforcement, the courts and the Home Office to ensure the CPS continues to have access to the capabilities it needs and that effective international cooperation with EU Member States on extradition, gathering of evidence and asset recovery continues. The CPS has also engaged extensively with EU counterparts in order to safeguard existing cases using EU tools as well as operate the new arrangements effectively.

As well as providing for streamlined extradition arrangements, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides for cooperation between the UK and Europol and the UK and Eurojust to facilitate multilateral law enforcement and criminal justice cooperation. The UK remains fully operational at Eurojust with a Liaison Prosecutor Desk which was up and running from 1 January 2021. In December 2020, the CPS was participating in 33 out of 41 Joint Investigation Teams involving the UK and the CPS remains equally involved in all of these today.

The TCA equips operational partners on both sides with the capabilities that help protect citizens and bring criminals to justice – promoting the security of all our citizens.