Home Office report on Brexit security risks 'held back during referendum campaign'
2 min read
A Home Office report setting out how Britain could be less safe outside the EU was held back during the EU referendum, according to reports.
The Times says that the document was prepared in the lead-up to last year’s vote, but was not published because the Remain campaign was concerned it would be seen as scaremongering.
A source told the paper that despite the serious nature of the arguments, voters were not responding well to repeated warnings about post-Brexit risks.
The study, which was compiled when Theresa May was Home Secretary, warns that while security cooperation will continue, it will be slower and less effective than as a member of the bloc.
“None of the tools for co-operation EU countries have available with countries outside the EU match the speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of the tools that are available for co-operation between EU members,” it reads.
Among the areas highlighted in the report are the “significant protection benefits” of the Schengen Information System, which provides alerts on criminal activity within the border-free Schengen area.
In her Lancaster House speech earlier this year, Mrs May said she wanted any deal with the EU to include “practical arrangements on matters of law enforcement and the sharing of intelligence material with our EU allies”.
While the report says it will be possible for the UK to strike a number of agreements with Brussels, it also warns of an interim period where Britain will not be contributing to crucial discussions on security.
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