UK Government ready to allow EU police forces to access British air passengers' personal information
The European Commission yesterday tabled a proposal that would see telephone numbers, addresses, credit card numbers, email and other details of British air travellers made available on demand for all of the EU’s police forces. The passenger name record (PNR) system being proposed will track all travellers on flights in or out of the EU and will also allow police officers across the EU access to the data on suspicion of a serious crime.
The Telegraph notes that the UK has already effectively “opted-in” to the plans, without Parliamentary approval, by joining France, Denmark and Sweden in lobbying the European Commission to ensure that PNR data is collected for all flights within the EU as well for EU flights to third countries.
The article notes that the Coalition Government has decided not to wield its veto over European policing and immigration measures by actively “opting-in” to two thirds of EU justice proposals since last June. Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson is quoted saying: “Too often, the UK’s supposed veto over joining EU crime and justice laws is only a little more than a charade and this government has continued to transfer powers over these areas to the EU at a worrying rate.”
