Hugo Brady argues why Britain should remain a key player in EU crime and policing policy

Britain needs to decide by 2014 whether to remain a central player in EU crime and policing policy. If not, the UK must opt-out of over 130 forms of European co-operation in this area with no guarantee of future access to - amongst other things - the European arrest warrant, which greatly simplifies extraditon between EU countries. At stake is not just Britain's political influence in the Union but also its ability to provide for its own security and to police the world beyond its own borders.