UK and EU agree instant vehicle data sharing for cross-border crime checks

British and EU police forces will gain instant access to each other's vehicle registration records under a new data-sharing agreement. Officers will be able to run number-plate checks through the EU's Prum system and receive results in about 10 seconds.

The Home Office stated that past delays in obtaining overseas vehicle data had hindered investigations into migrant smuggling, drug trafficking, and weapons movement. Under the new arrangement, officers will receive keeper details and flags for stolen vehicles when a match occurs.

Background on the Prum framework The UK already participates in the Prum system for DNA and fingerprint data exchange. Vehicle data sharing will be added before the second UK-EU Summit, set for mid-July in Brussels. A trial will begin with the Police Service of Northern Ireland before nationwide rollout.

EU authorities will also be able to query UK DVLA records to locate individuals who have left Britain.

Prior joint operations During Operation Mobile 3, a two-week multi-country effort, more than 44,000 vehicle checks recovered over 350 stolen vehicles and 1,000 vehicle parts while identifying 17 suspected migrant smugglers. Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said the agreement gives British police faster access to information and strengthens cooperation with European partners.

Detective Chief Constable Peter Ayling said access to EU-registered vehicle keeper details adds to existing tools for tackling international crime. The APCC's joint leads on serious organised crime, Surrey PCC Lisa Townsend and Cumbria PFCC David Allen said the measure supplies police with additional resources to address cross-border criminal activity.