EU police have been granted instant access to British motorists' details under a new data-sharing agreement designed to combat organized crime. Drivers' information will be available to European Union officers within as little as 10 seconds, a significant reduction from the previous process that could take days or months.
New Data-Sharing Agreement
Both British and European officers can now check overseas-registered vehicles rapidly through the EU's Prum data-sharing framework, eliminating the need to file individual requests with each EU state. This allows officers to conduct number plate checks almost instantly.
Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones stated that the move gives officers faster access to vital information, helping them "quickly link vehicles to suspects, spot stolen or cloned cars, and track the movements of smugglers across borders."
Support from Law Enforcement
Detective Chief Constable Peter Ayling, the NPCC's national policing lead for international crime, welcomed the addition as part of a broader suite of tools for tackling cross-border crime. He said: "The ability to access keeper details of EU-registered vehicles is a welcome addition to a suite of other capabilities that help the UK tackle international crime. Crime is increasingly a global issue, and a swift and effective approach to exchanging information and intelligence with EU partners is critical for public protection."
APCC Joint Leads on Serious Organised Crime, Lisa Townsend (Surrey PCC) and David Allen (Cumbria PFCC), added: "Serious organised crime is an increasing and global threat that plays out in communities across our country. Too many lives are devastated by the international trade in drugs and weapons, so it is vital police have all available tools to tackle it. Quick access to EU data enabling police here to track the transnational movements of those involved in trafficking people, narcotics and lethal weapons into the UK will significantly support law enforcement in the fight against dangerous criminals whose illegal activities blight our local communities."
Operation Mobile 3
The announcement builds on Operation Mobile 3, a two-week multinational operation that conducted over 44,000 vehicle checks, recovering more than 350 stolen vehicles and 1,000 vehicle parts, and supporting action against 17 suspected migrant smugglers.
