Ministers get security warning over EU opt-out

OPTING out of European police and justice measures could have “significant negative repercussions” for Britain’s security, peers have warned.

A report by the House of Lords EU committee said it was particularly concerned about the impact of the UK withdrawing from the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), saying the alternatives were inadequate.

And it accused the UK government of failing to consult properly on the issue.

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Under the 2007 Lisbon Treaty, the government has until May next year to exercise an opt-out from a package of 133 measures, including the EAW.

Home Secretary Theresa May has indicated the government plans to repatriate the powers, then negotiate fresh deals on some elements. She has declined to confirm which measures she will seek to sign back up to.

The committee said: “In light of the evidence we have received, including a preponderant view among our witnesses from the legal, law enforcement and prosecutorial professions, we conclude that the government have not made a convincing case for exercising the opt-out and that opting out would have significant adverse negative repercussions for the internal security of the UK and the administration of criminal justice.”