Conservative MPs risk UK ability to catch criminals abroad
Originally published by UK Liberal Democrats
Commenting, Julian Huppert said:
"Crimestoppers clearly agree with UK police and security chiefs that when crime crosses borders, crime fighting must too.
"If some Conservatives get their way, this project is doomed. By denying our law enforcement authorities access to European Arrest Warrants and other cross-border cooperation, they will let hundreds of the UK's most wanted criminals escape British justice.
"Instead of serving their sentences, some of our most-wanted paedophiles, gangsters and other criminals would be able to enjoy the beaches of Cyrpus and other countries while the police fight a lengthy battle for their extradition.
"The European Arrest Warrant is by no means perfect but rather than working to improve it, Conservatives want to scrap this and other essential international crime measures altogether.
"This would make it much harder for the UK to fight against serious organised cross-border crime. Lord Ashcroft set up Crimestoppers UK so perhaps it is time he explained this to members of his own party."