The costs of the UK’s opt-out of EU justice and policing measures would far exceed any benefits.

The UK government has indicated that it would like to pursue an opt-out of EU measures on police cooperation and criminal justice in 2014, in order to ‘repatriate’ criminal justice back to the UK. This week a UK House of Lords joint committee reported on its investigation of the opt-out, concluding that it could have negative repercussions. Alicia Hinarejos gave evidence to the joint committee, and argues that an opt-out might be costly for the UK, reduce its ability to police international crimes, and may force it to make concessions in other areas.