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Dr Phillip Lee: We must reduce EU control over policing

By Laura Herbert
January 30, 2013

You may recall a previous column last year in which I wrote about the need to repatriate powers on crime and policing back from Europe.

This was following a letter in a national paper that was signed by 102 of my Conservative colleagues in Parliament which called on the Government to lessen EU control over the British justice system.

At the time, I was already calling for serious negotiations on the UK’s membership of the European Union.

Many people have been wrongly arrested because of botched DNA matches.

New EU regulations risk a flood of such cases.

Brussels wants foreign police to have access to the details of 38 million motorists held on the DVLA database, as well as the UK’s DNA and fingerprint records.

Even European Commission concedes that systemic flaws could lead to false matches sucking the innocent into foreign investigations.

This is why in light of this week’s policy development following a speech by the Prime Minister, I would like to update you on the Government’s progress of protecting our sovereignty from the EU, including the repatriation of crime and policing policy.

With the ongoing Eurozone crisis, the EU is changing.

This is undoubtedly raising questions about its future and Britain’s place within it.

Therefore, I am a strong advocator and fully behind the Prime Minister’s cast-iron pledge to negotiate with the EU to seek a looser relationship then, based on those new terms, offer an in/out referendum in 2017 in the event of a Conservative majority in 2015.

The EU’s direction of travel is towards closer union.

The last referendum on the EU in 1975 was on profoundly different terms and this lack of a British democratic mandate needs to be put right.

Remember, anyone born since 1957 has not had the opportunity to have any say on the EU.

Hence, so this democratic deficit can be addressed, I believe the Government should first negotiate a better settlement for Britain in the EU and then put the deal to the people in a referendum.

The best way to achieve this would be via a new Treaty that makes the changes needed to resolve the crisis in the Eurozone, while at the same time protecting the interests of those of us outside the Eurozone.

This would drive forward reform for all.

Having exercised an opt-out, there is still a possibility to press for basic safeguards as a condition for opting back.

I believe that few would object to Europe-wide criminal records checks to protect the public, but the proposal to sign up for a pan-European data-sharing on every citizen is dangerous.

This is why I want to see British standards of justice and democratic accountability into these crucial decisions.

In closing, I would like to encourage you all to come along to my next public question and answer session in Sandhurst on Thursday, February 7.

This will be a fantastic opportunity for you to engage further in this debate and ask any questions about what changes to our relationship with Europe would mean for my constituents.

The meeting will take place at Sandhurst Town Council from 7.30pm.

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Most recent user comments 3 of 3

Thumbs up to Kevin and Winstanley, thumbs down to the damaging blue stain on this country.

Jeppo
31/01/2013 at 19:24

Nicely pointed out Kevin.

I'm at the point where I've moved beyond incredulity at Lee's awfulness as an MP, and now just plain angry that this berk and his Tory colleagues screwing the country into the ground.

His default political setting is to play to the die-hard blue voters who are rabidly anti-Europe and tough on crime. He fails to see that he has to have a broader appeal. But he has no political instinct.

Absolutely we must be very wary about sharing our citizens data across borders.

But how Lee can advocate the position he takes then stand behind the government on plans to introduce foreigners to run our police, and introduce an officer class to jump the queue for senior supervisory roles.

Phillip Lee: I'm a former officer in the Met, and I started as constable - as did every senior officer above me, right up to the Commissioner. This system enables every level of management to understand the 'job' from it's very basics. To skip that, whether it's graduates fast-tracked in an even shorter time frame than currently exists, or to introduce outside management will lead to a poorer service for the public, and a demolition of what morale already exists amongst serving officers.

It would be a bit like you becoming a GP by skipping med school.

You're a fool and your parties policies are dangerous and ripping the very fabric of our children's safety and future apart.

Winstanley, Bracknell
30/01/2013 at 16:38

' I want to see British standards of justice'

... in other news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21254322

'Senior officers from overseas will be able to run police forces in England and Wales for the first time, under a government overhaul of recruitment.'