§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's policy is on the adoption of a legally binding instrument for setting up joint investigative teams to conduct criminal investigations in one or more member states of the EU. [118070]
§ Mr. BoatengAs the deployment of joint investigation teams is currently permitted under United Kingdom law, we do not require the adoption of a legally binding instrument to allow the setting up of joint investigative teams. However, some of our European Union partners have problems with this type of co-operation in the absence of such an instrument. The Government therefore support the initiative as a welcome extension of our co-operative ability. The adoption of a joint instrument will not affect the existing arrangements concerning joint investigation teams that are currently used on a regular basis by United Kingdom law enforcement authorities such as the police service and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. The Government do not consider that the initiative should in any way detract from the need to agree the existing draft European Union Mutual Assistance Convention which itself contains a provision on joint investigation teams.