THE TELEGRAPH: Britons face being spied on and pursued by foreign police officers even for the most minor offences in an European agreement the Home Office will sign up to tomorrow.
The power allows prosecutors from any EU country to demand details such as DNA or even bank and phone records on anyone they suspect of a crime.
Officers in the UK would be almost powerless to refuse the request even if they believed it was disproportionate to the alleged offence being investigated.
They could also be told to carry out investigations and live surveillance for their EU counterparts, despite already stretched resources.
Theresa May, the Home Secretary, will today announce she plans to sign up to the so-called European Investigation Order (EIO), The Daily Telegraph understands.
It comes despite concerns by fair trial campaigners and has angered backbench Tories.
It raises the prospect of personal details of individuals being passed on without their knowledge in the most minor of cases, such as leaving a restaurant without paying. >>> Tom Whitehead and Andrew Porter | Monday, July 26, 2010
