The UK's National Police Chiefs' Council on Tuesday announced the creation of a new country-wide unit to assist police forces after Britain leaves the European Union.
The post-Brexit unit will help train officers to use alternatives if the UK loses access to the current EU data sharing and cooperation tools, such as the European Arrest Warrant or Europol systems.
The "contingency plans", agreed by all chief constables at a meeting in London on Monday, will see the UK law enforcement revert to the use of international police tools through Interpol, bilateral channels and Council of Europe conventions to enable extradition of suspects, trace missing people and share intelligence about crime and terrorism.
"Existing EU tools allow us to respond quickly and intelligently to crime and terrorism in the UK and the EU they make us better at protecting the public. The alternatives we are planning to use, where they exist, are without exception slower, more bureaucratic and ultimately less effective," said National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Chair Sara Thornton.
"We have agreed a model that minimises the risks and makes best use of already pressured police resources. It does not predict a worst-case scenario but it does prepare for it," she said.
The new unit will be staffed by officers and staff from the UK's police forces, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the national Criminal Records Office (ACRO) with a central coordination team and a network of regional single points of contacts who will advise and help forces use alternative mechanisms.
The unit, which will be funded by the UK Home Office and hosted by the Metropolitan Police, will be governed through the NPCC.
NPCC's Lead for Brexit, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Martin, said: "Criminals don't respect borders 70 per cent of transient organised crime groups operate in more than three countries. We remain hopeful that a deal that allows us maintain these capabilities can be struck".
Britain's chief constables also signed off plans to prepare for the possible effects of a no-deal Brexit, including public protest or disorder and possible disruption linked to transport and borders.
The plans will see a small team established that will review intelligence, assess threats and consider them against existing plans for civil contingencies, refreshing or developing new plans as required. Plans will then be tested and exercised.
"Our first priority is to gather intelligence and establish a realistic threat assessment that distinguishes real from perceived threats. At this stage, we have no intelligence to suggest there will be an increase in crime or disorder as a result of a Brexit deal or no deal," said NPCC Lead for Operations, Chief Constable Charlie Hall.
"Like other public bodies, we are preparing for possible outcomes and in each case we are working with the relevant government departments to ensure we are ready to respond.
"As you would expect these plans will need to be dynamic, and will change in response to what will undoubtedly be a changing threat assessment," he said.
Earlier this month, it had emerged that Britain's police forces have drawn up anti-riot plans as a contingency in case there is violence on the country's border on and around Brexit day of March 29, 2019.
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