Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the technical advice his Department has issued to Chief Constables on the effect on policing and security cooperation in the the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal; and for what reason that information has not been shared with Police and Crime Commissioners.

The Home Office is working closely with strategic operational policing leads on policing and security cooperation between the UK and the EU in the context of EU exit.

Our preferred scenario is a new legally binding agreement between the UK and the EU on internal security.

In a no deal scenario, however, as a responsible Government, we are working with a range of operational partners, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

The Home Office has not issued a technical notice in this area. The focus of technical notices is to help businesses and citizens to prepare for EU exit. We are working directly with the NPCC and under “Operation Safety Net”, the NPCC are establishing a new national unit, called the International Crime Co-ordination Centre. Part of the function of this new unit will be to issue technical advice and guidance to forces.

Relevant policing leads are also providing updates and briefing to Police and Crime Commissioners about the work of the new unit.