Mark Pritchard MP: Why I'm supporting the EAW opt-ins

Conservative MP Mark Pritchard calls on Tory colleagues to support the UK remaining part of the European Arrest Warrant, saying to opt out would “give succour to Europe’s most malevolent”. Whilst UK domestic crime is decreasing EU cross border crime is on the rise. Whether human trafficking, cyber theft, or money laundering, modern crime, often the most serious form of crime, is a growing challenge for British law enforcement agencies. That is why European and international co-operation on taking out these criminal networks is vital. Having exercised Britain's opt-out under the Lisbon Treaty, which brought back over one hundred and thirty five justice and home affairs powers to Britain, it is now right, after the passage of time, to re-examine which of these powers, if any, as amended, will now work to deliver British criminal justice and enhance our national security. When it comes to putting criminals behind bars it has to be what works that works! Criminal justice has to be practically driven - not ideologically driven. Like many Conservative colleagues I have previously held many concerns about opting back into the European Arrest Warrant, but with the backdrop of rising trans-national crime, and having examined each of the thirty fives measures the UK government wishes opt back into in detail, I have now concluded, that in the interests of keeping Britain safe, I will now be supporting the government in the lobbies tonight. Again, like many colleagues, I want to see the supremacy of British courts re-asserted, but anything that could lead to delays in bringing terrorists and paedophiles before British courts should be avoided. Remaining out of the European Arrest Warrant in its entirety will only give succour to Europe’s most malevolent. The supremacy of British Courts will invariably play a key part in the Prime Minister's re-negotiations with the EU and be a key pillar of the new British Bill of Rights. Something that will be legislated for, should the Conservatives form the next government. European Courts do need to reform, not least the European Court of Justice, but the slow pace of reform should not become a technical argument, perhaps leading to unintended consequences, allowing serious criminals off the hook as they benefit from legal loopholes and judicial vacuums. Interestingly, the Sun newspaper, a newspaper known for its tough stance on crime, stated in a recent editorial that Britain should opt back into the EAW. I agree with the Sun. The opt-ins are vital judicial tool in keeping Britain safe and reducing crime. For example the European Criminal Records Information Service, SIS II, and the FADO digital archive, which tracks false driving licenses and identity documents, and the sophisticated Customs Information System, all share vital data which will help keep Britain secure and help track and apprehend criminals and terrorists. Government amendments to the EAW, under the new Prisoner Transfer Framework Decision, will now also make it far easier to remove foreign criminals and deport them back to their country of origin. Something many Conservative colleagues have called for - for many years. The government has also made progress on making sure, in future, British courts can refuse European arrest warrants which are issued for minor offences as well as introducing a new measure which will ensure British nationals are no longer extradited when European prosecuting authorities are still ‘investigating’ an alleged crime. All of these changes are significant and address many of the concerns raised by Conservative colleagues over many years. In short, it is tangible progress from where the government was four years ago. In short, the European Arrest Warrant of today looks nothing like the European Arrest Warrant of yesterday. Major changes have taken place: changes that were long overdue, which are welcome, and which I now support. I am also pleased to see that the new and revised European Supervision Order, now allows British subjects to be bailed back to Britain, rather than spending month on month in pre-trial detention abroad. Again, progress. I don’t want Britain becoming a safe haven for Europe's criminals. I also want British criminals currently living it up in Spain, lying on a metal bed in Brixton prison not lying on a soft sun-lounger in the Balearics. Supporting the European Arrest Warrant opt-ins will help deliver this. As with all politics, tonight’s vote is about dealing with issues as they are today - rather than how we would like them to be.