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The Home Secretary has said the UK will remain one of the “safest countries in the world” despite being excluded from a key crime database from next year.
Priti Patel said the EU and the UK have “effective tools to tackle serious crime” in the future.
Starting in July next year, the UK will start receiving advance data on all EU products in Britain, something that had not previously been possible under EU rules.
The EU said it is legally impossible to offer access to the SIS to the UK. Stock Image
The European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss national identity cards, which the UK says are “unsafe”, will be refused entry into Britain from 1 October next year.
But the UK will lose access to the EU Schengen Information System II (SIS II), which is a database of alerts and instructions if a person of concern, such as a missing person or someone involved in terrorism-related activities , or objects related to terrorism – found when entering or leaving the UK.
The bloc has said that it is legally impossible to offer access to the SIS to the UK.
Last month, the head of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) for Brexit, Deputy Deputy Commissioner Richard Martin, said that the Schengen Information System was reviewed 603 million times last year and that the loss of access the system will have a “massive impact” on officers.
“We have more than four million alerts in the Schengen Information System about people, property and things that my officers need to see,” he said.
Contingency plans have been put in place to ensure officers continue to receive the alerts they believe are the most important.
Ms Patel said: “The safety of UK citizens is the government’s top priority and the UK will continue to be one of the safest countries in the world.
“I am immensely proud of the complete package of capabilities that we have agreed with the EU.
“It means that both parties have effective tools to combat serious crime and terrorism, protect the public and bring criminals to justice.
“But we will also seize this historic opportunity to make the UK safer and more secure through stronger and fairer border controls.”
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The UK’s journey towards a Brexit trade deal
On Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen announced a trade agreement it had been reached before the December 31 deadline.
The agreement includes streamlined extradition arrangements, rapid and effective exchange of national DNA, fingerprints and vehicle registration data, and continuous transfers of Passenger Name Registry data.
After news of the deal broke, NPCC said: “We welcome the deal between the UK government and European partners.
“We are working with the government to fully understand the details of the security agreement and how it will be implemented, and to ensure that we are prepared for any changes to the way we currently operate.”
