New Measures To Fight Crime

12.28.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 1st Apr 2004

The European Parliament agreed this week to a proposal for a European Evidence Warrant - a single document that can be used to authorise the quick transfer of evidence between Member States. Evidence on a suspect in the East Midlands will be passed to another EU country, and vice versa, much more quickly than currently is the case.

Bill Newton Dunn, Lib Dem MEP for the East Midlands, tabled amendments to strengthen safeguards for suspects. These amendments, which were subsequently adopted by the European Parliament, included increased data protection provisions, protection of minors, and the inviolability of human rights in executing the warrant.

Speaking after the vote, he explained, "The Warrant will allow the efficient transfer of existing evidence - objects documents or data, including criminal records. It will also enable one state to ask another state to search premises and seize items (under the executing state's own national procedures) if they believe they are likely to be moved, altered or destroyed. It will not, however, allow requests that DNA or 'real time' evidence such as interviews to be obtained."

"This is one more essential piece to the jigsaw of fighting crime. Criminals easily take advantage of the EU's open borders but police forces and judiciaries struggle with a mixture of differing legal and procedural rules across Member States. This initiative will create a single, simple and quick process."

The Euro MP expressed regrets, however, that EU rules on safeguards in criminal proceedings have not yet been adopted. "Advances in fighting crime are absolutely essential but they must come hand in hand with the protection of people's rights. I will continue to press for the urgent adoption of a separate decision on procedural safeguards."

The proposal will now go the Council of Ministers, who must take the European Parliament's Opinion into consideration when making their final decision.