WATCH: Police chief fears losing european arrest warrant in event on no-deal Brexit

By Rebecca Black, Press Association and Q Radio News

A senior police officer in Northern Ireland has voiced concern that the European Arrest Warrant could disappear in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin was speaking at a Northern Ireland Policing Board seminar in a week when five people are being brought back to the region under the mechanism.

"We are worried about the implications for the European Arrest Warrant, it is a very important tool within our criminal justice toolbox," he said.

"It allows us to seek the extradition back to Northern Ireland of people who have committed crimes and are in countries within the EU.

"Obviously there is a focus on the issue with the Republic of Ireland and the cross border dimension.

"The European Arrest Warrant is really important and if there was a disorganised no deal (Brexit) there is a risk that actually, those people even we have currently arrested and gone through the process of European Arrest Warrants, that that would fall away.

"The good thing is we have identified that and we are working with government and departments here, there is work ongoing to try and ensure if that was to occur, that we can manage that, that we can ensure that gap is plugged."

PSNI @DepChiefConPSNI Stephen Martin says he’s “content” police have prepared for every scenario possible for Brexit at this time. However, says leaving with a deal would have less of an impact on policing and communities across NI: pic.twitter.com/QRDu42KGht

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) March 28, 2019

Mr Martin said there is a lot of work going on to ensure there are fall-back measures ready if needed to replace various criminal justice provisions, such as accessing criminal records.

"But I will say, no matter what is put in place, it is likely to be sub-optimal, likely to be slower, clunkier, likely to be more bureaucratic and it is highly unlikely in that scenario that we would have the same swiftness and professionalism around these issues that exist now, and that would have a negative impact," he said.

He added: "I am content that we are prepared as we can be in the circumstances, but like everybody, we do look forward to getting some clarity."

(PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs)

Earlier Assistant Chief Constable Tim Mairs outlined a number of concerns police had around a no-deal Brexit.

These included the prospect of violent attacks if any additional infrastructure or checks were introduced at the Irish border, and also the potential for criminals to exploit any new differences between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Mr Martin emphasised that the PSNI has no plans to install any additional infrastructure at the border.

Mr Mairs has been involved with the Police Service of Northern Ireland's preparations for Brexit, leading Operation Nebraskan on how the service will need to transform.

Mr Mairs emphasised that police do not want to see the perception of a "safe haven" for criminals created either north or south of the Irish border after Brexit.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is currently recruiting 308 new police officers and staff to deal with Brexit after receiving additional funding of £16.4 million from the Treasury.