On 24 December 2020, the United Kingdom agreed the terms on which it has left the European Union: the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, “the Agreement”. Part Three of the Agreement: ‘Law Enforcement and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters’ has as its objective
“to provide for law enforcement and judicial cooperation between the Member States [etc.] … and the United Kingdom … in relation to the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal offences and the prevention of and fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism.”
This paper examines Part Three of Agreement. It explains what tools the UK had prior to signing the Agreement and what tools it has going forward. The question it addresses is: Will our police and security services be advantaged or disadvantaged by the changes?