East Midlands Euro MP leads Europe's fight against organised crime

1.55.52pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 26th Oct 2005

The European Parliament today voted a proposed EU law to strengthen the fight against international organised crime. Bill Newton Dunn, Liberal Democrat MEP and Rapporteur on the subject for the Parliament's Justice Committee, says that it will enhance police co-operation between member states and will enable a more effective joint-approach against cross-border crime.

Bill said in Strasbourg: "Organised crime is growing in strength. We need much better cross-border co-operation in Europe against major crimes such as internet crime, drug trafficking, trafficking in women, children and illegal immigrants, money laundering, tobacco trafficking, car theft, currency forgery, counterfeit identity, documents and counterfeit goods of many kinds. Too many obstacles and too much lack of trust currently hinders the fight."

"This act will provide the European Union with a powerful new instrument to combat organised crime more effectively. The Parliament has asked the 25 member state governments to each set up unified central agencies (such as the UK's new Serious Organised Crime Agency, SOCA) and also Asset Recovery Agencies (such as Ireland's example in Dublin).

The key to tackling these crimes is to have law-enforcement working together across Europe. Free movement of citizens is the cornerstone of the European Union. But that freedom is exploited by professional criminal gangs who cross borders with impunity while our national police forces cannot. Crime crosses frontiers, and so must law enforcement."

Bill noted, with surprise, during the voting in Strasbourg, that the East Midlands independent Tory MEP, Roger Helmer, voted against the proposals but did not explain why.