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Brexit: crime, justice and the law

What are the implications of leaving the European Union on crime, justice and the law in the UK? Read research and analysis from Parliament's libraries and committees on the impact of Brexit.

Law enforcement and criminal justice

European documents relating to the Schengen Information System
Commons Library research briefing, 15 December 2017
Overview of proposed regulations to improve counter-terrorism efforts across the EU and the UK's participation in these regulations

Brexit: judicial oversight of the European Arrest Warrant
EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee report, 27 July 2017
Raises concern about the prospect of a "cliff-edge" in extradition arrangements after the European Arrest Warrant ceases to apply

Brexit: implications for policing and criminal justice cooperation
Commons Library research briefing, 24 February 2017
Looks at implications of Brexit on mutual recognition, EU agencies, information sharing, substantive criminal law and criminal procedure

Exiting the EU and security, law enforcement and criminal justice
Commons Library research briefing, 17 January 2017
Information produced ahead of the general debate on exiting the EU and security, law enforcement and criminal justice

Brexit: future UK–EU security and police cooperation
EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee report, 16 December 2016
Examines agencies supporting security and police cooperation between the UK and EU, and options for retaining or replacing them

Legal and constitutional issues

European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill: interim report
Constitution Committee report, 5 November 2019
Examines the constitutional issues in the Government's Withdrawal Agreement Bill

Withdrawal Agreement Bill: Sovereignty, special status and the Withdrawal Agreement
Commons Library Insight, 22 October 2019
Examines the current status of EU law in the UK and the impact of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill on Parliamentary sovereignty

Brexit questions in national and EU courts
Commons Library briefing paper, updated 1 November 2019
Looks at issues that have been the subject of legal action in UK and EU courts

Divorce after Brexit
Commons Library Insight, 10 October 2019
Sets out the current rules for divorce involving parties from different countries and the potential impact on getting divorced after Brexit

Getting divorced if there is a no-deal Brexit
Commons Library research briefing, 9 October 2019
Considers how no-deal Brexit might affect procedural matters relating to divorce, particular for spouses from separate EU countries

Provision of legal services after the UK leaves the EU
Commons Library research briefing, 16 November 2018
Overview of implications for the legal sector of 'no deal' Brexit and recommendations from the Legal and Constitutional Affairs APPG

Dispute resolution and enforcement after Brexit
EU Justice Sub-Committee report, 3 May 2018
Calls on the Government to propose an effective system for dispute resolution and enforcement

European withdrawal: Transitional provisions and dispute resolution
European Scrutiny Committee report, 20 March 2018
Examines scrutiny of EU legislation during the implementation period and other legal concerns arising from the Brexit negotiations

Brexit: civil judicial cooperation
Commons Library research briefing, 5 October 2017
Considers cross-border civil judicial cooperation post-Brexit and the UK's plans for a new agreement mirrored on existing provisions

Implications of Brexit for the justice system
Justice Committee report, 22 March 2017
Recommends that the Government addresses four priorities for the justice system in negotiating UK's new relationship with the EU

Brexit: justice for families, individuals and businesses?
EU Justice Sub-Committee report, 20 March 2017
Examines what alternative plans the Government has to replace the loss of EU regulations governing cooperation in civil and family law

Brexit: the Brussels IIa regulation
Commons Library research briefing, 11 November 2016
Considers the effect of Brexit in terms of the Brussels IIa regulation concerning cross-border child contact cases and child abduction

Brexit: some legal, constitutional and financial unknowns
Commons Library research briefing, 9 November 2016
Explores 'unknowns' around the role of Parliament and devolved legislatures, EU institutions, the economic impact and citizens' rights

Legal and constitutional issues and alternatives to EU membership
Commons Library research briefing, 28 July 2016
Considers how the UK will leave the EU, some legal and constitutional issues, and possible alternatives to EU membership

Brexit and the EU Court
Commons Library research briefing, 14 November 2016
Reviews the High Court ruling on prerogative power to trigger Article 50

Equalities and human rights

Human Rights Protections in International Agreements
Joint Committee on Human Rights report, 12 March 2019
Says a new approach is needed so that the UK ensures high human rights standards in all international agreements made post-Brexit

Disability in the UK: rights and policy
Lords Library research briefing, 21 June 2018
Overview of the legal framework governing disabled people's rights in the UK and possible implications of Brexit for disabled people

The EU (Withdrawal) Bill: A Right by Right Analysis
Joint Committee on Human Rights report, 26 January 2018
Examines the implications of excluding the Charter of Fundamental Rights from domestic law after exit day

Ensuring strong equalities legislation after the EU exit
Women and Equalities Committee report, 28 February 2017
Says the Brexit process offers an opportunity to embed equality into law and policy in the UK

The human rights implications of Brexit
Joint Committee on Human Rights report, 19 December 2016
Says the Government must not use fundamental rights as a bargaining chip and calls for protection of residency rights

Human rights priorities in the light of Brexit
Lords Library research briefing, 7 December 2017
Examines some of the overarching human rights issues relating to Brexit and the EU Withdrawal Bill

Data protection

The progress of the UK's negotiations on EU withdrawal: Data
Exiting the European Union Committee report, 3 July 2018
Calls on the Government to start the process to secure a Data Adequacy Decision from the EU as soon as possible

Data Protection Bill 2017–19: Committee Stage Report
Commons Library research briefing, 13 April 2018
Examines controversial provisions on immigration control and other subjects that prompted lengthy debate by the Public Bill Committee

Commons Library analysis of the Data Protection Bill 2017–19
Commons Library research briefing, 1 March 2018
Overview of the Bill, which aims to ensure that the UK would be able to freely exchange data with the EU post-Brexit

Brexit and data protection
Commons Library research briefing, updated 10 October 2017
Looks at the reform of EU data protection law and what might happen after Brexit

Brexit: the EU data protection package
EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee report, 18 July 2017
Examines the overhaul of the EU's data protection standards and the implications for data transfers between the UK and the EU

Further reading

Brexit reading list: legal and constitutional issues
Commons Library research briefing, updated 20 December 2017
Analysis of the EU referendum, legal and constitutional issues, and concerns for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Brexit reading list: policing and criminal justice
Commons Library research briefing, 16 December 2016
Commentary on the implications of Brexit for policing and criminal justice cooperation and national security

Brexit reading list: defence and security
Commons Library research briefing, updated 31 August 2017
Analysis and comment on defence and security-related matters relevant to the UK's withdrawal from the EU

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