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Britain should be “very concerned” about the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, a former Europol chief has warned.
Speaking exclusively to Sky News, Max-Peter Ratzel said he believed British national security was at risk and urged leaders to agree on security cooperation, even if it exists. No deal.
“I would be concerned. I would be very concerned. I am concerned as a European that we lose some of our competition, but I would be even more concerned if it were British,” he said.
“You lose more than we naturally lose: look at the size of the communities, look at the size of the data.
“If I were British, I would be very concerned if the flow of information would be as good as in the past.”
The German Ratzel led the From the eu law enforcement agency from 2005 to 2009. He was succeeded by Welshman Sir Rob Wainwright.
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UK looks ready for a no-deal Brexit
He said: “My message to all politicians would be: please keep in mind that there must be a good way out.”
“Even if there is no agreement, try to reach an agreement especially for cooperation in the areas of internal security and the judicial system.
“Tell your people on the security side that they are obligated to do everything possible to maintain the high level of cooperation.”
Britain will automatically leave Europol on January 1, 2021 and even if a deal is reached, “operational partner status” is the best the UK could hope for.
This would put the UK on the same footing as the US, Norway and Australia, which means reduced access to vital data and less influence within the organization.
The UK would also lose access to the Schengen Information System, a database that provides real-time alerts to police and border forces on 35,000 people wanted under a European arrest warrant.
Europol headquarters of the EU police agency in The Hague
It also gives alerts on suspected foreign fighters, missing persons, and persons and objects of interest to EU security agencies.
“It is very risky and very complicated. If we look at the future of cooperation within the security environment,” Ratzel said.
“Now Britain has lost the institution of the European Union and that is why Britain has also lost Europol.
“So if, in the future, Britain will cooperate with Europol, then there must be a cooperation agreement, but then you are a supposed external partner.”
“And by nature, a third partner is not a genuine partner,” he added.
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Ratzel also said that tensions in recent years had eroded trust on both sides.
“Last year’s process [Brexit negotiations] in the dealings between Britain and the European Union it has destroyed much credibility and raised the question of “how trustworthy is Britain?”
“Both partners, both the British and European sides, must be interested in how to cooperate.
“There is no doubt that there is a need to cooperate. Only by sharing information will we improve our cooperation framework, improve our crime analysis, and be able to prevent crimes from occurring, not just the investigated crimes that have occurred.
“The European space will also be the European space for criminals in the future.”
He added: “Even if you are no longer part of the European Union, criminals will continue to travel from the mainland to Britain and back.”
