Responding to the release of the government’s paper on criminal justice and security co-operation following Brexit, Law Society of England and Wales vice president Christina Blacklaws said:

The Law Society has long stressed the importance of maintaining close and effective collaboration with the EU on matters of criminal justice and security - something the government has clearly recognised.

It is in everyone’s best interests we maintain this close working relationship and this requires a deeper level of co-operation than currently exists between the EU and non-member states.

This includes ways to continue our participation in crucial criminal justice infrastructure, such as the European Arrest Warrant and the Schengen Information System, or find an effective substitute for them.

While much remains to be done, this paper signals a positive intention from government to maintain a high level of co-operation with the EU on criminal justice and security matters - vital in these uncertain times.