‘Legal Issues Related to UK Policing Agencies Working with Europol Post-Brexit’

Post-Brexit the UK’s co-operation and working alongside the EU’s Member States policing agencies changed dramatically. Prior to leaving the EU in January 2020, UK policing agencies had an active and co-operative role with the EU’s policing agency Europol. Since leaving the EU the UK no longer has access to the European Arrest Warrant, Europol’s intelligence system or Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre. This chapter examines both the legal and operational implications Brexit has resulted in regarding policing co-operation between UK, EU member state policing agencies and Europol. The chapter examines how following the 2023 Windsor Frame Decision, there is hope for optimism in developing positive and meaningful arrangements regarding co-operation between UK policing agencies and the EU. As the chapter concludes, until an agreement on co-operation can be made between the UK and the EU in relation to terrorist and criminal activity like that between the EU and other European third countries like Norway or Iceland, the UK will have to rely on the likes of time-consuming extradition orders when dealing with EU Member States’ policing agencies and vice versa. This is not an ideal situation when it comes to the safety of all European citizens.