Cross-border police co-operation: The Kent experience

Abstract:

The geographical trans-frontier region of Kent, the Nord/Pas-de-Calais, the southern Netherlands and Flanders provides a laboratory of European Cross-border co-operation in law enforcement at all levels. This article highlights the role played since 1968 by sheer necessity, at an operational level, together with the formation of the Cross Channel Intelligence Conference (CCIC) (1968-2001). Whilst highlighting major differences in approach to policing between UK forces and their continental counterparts, the CCIC provided routes whereby mutual assistance both informally and formally could be established. The Kent Police trans-frontier model (1968-2001) initiative to appoint liaison officers in the early years provided further enhancement to localised co-operation, providing a model for a future European Liaison Unit, and was an important factor during the planning phase of the Channel Tunnel (1986-93).