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Q1. What countries will have access to the Schengen Information System?
A. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Q2. Will the 10 new accession states to the European Union have access to the Schengen Information System?
A. The 10 new accession states (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) will eventually have access to the Schengen Information System by approximately
2007 due to required system upgrades to increase capacity.
Q3. How will the implementation of Sirene UK affect current police processes?
A. Police forces will make changes to their business processes and their interfaces between their IT systems and the PNC. It is anticipated that use of Sirene UK and the Schengen Information System will become part of day-to-day business for UK police and other law enforcement agencies.
Q4. How does the data system work?
A. Each of the 17 countries which will have access to the system (see Q1) has a National Schengen Information System (N.SIS), which holds a copy of the Central Schengen Information System. Each N.SIS is configured to link with existing national applications. The UK N.SIS will interface directly with PNC.
When an alert is created against either a person or a vehicle, this alert goes from the PNC screen to the N.SIS. From here the N.SIS sends this information to the Central Schengen Information System, which then distributes it to the N.SIS databases of all participating countries (see Q1).
Q5. Will Sirene UK increase police powers?
A. No. The system gives the officer on the ground more information not more powers. This information can only be used within the existing powers of police officers within the country in which they are operating.
The introduction of the European Arrest Warrant in January 2004
means that if an individual has a ‘wanted for extradition’ alert
placed against them, then that person can be arrested within
the participating countries.
Q6. Will the use of Sirene UK help in the fight against serious and organised crime?
A. Yes. If a law enforcement officer believes an individual is linked to serious and organised crime then a ‘request for discreet information reports on major criminals and linked vehicles’ alert can be placed against the details of that person. Appropriate and stringent authorisation processes are in place.
Q7. Will the use of Sirene UK help reduce the threat from potentially dangerous offenders seeking to travel to or from the UK?
A. Yes. The option of creating a ‘request for discreet information reports on major criminals and linked vehicles’ alert will be a standard consideration in the risk assessment process of all potentially dangerous offenders.
Q8.
Will Sirene UK help reduce opportunities to commit identity fraud?
A. Yes. When law enforcements officers have access to the Schengen Information System, they will be able to check ID documents (such as driving licences, passports, identity cards etc) through the Police National Computer (PNC) to ascertain whether they have been registered as lost or stolen. This applies to UK ID documents as well as documentation from other Schengen member countries (see Q1). If, for example, a passport is checked and is found to be registered as lost or stolen, a police investigation may follow.
In order for this system to be effective, it is essential that all lost or stolen UK passports and driving licences are reported to the UK Passport Agency or DVLA / DVLNI respectively as these organisations provide regular downloads of information to the Schengen Information System.
For further information on lost and stolen passports please visit www.ukpa.gov.uk or www.fco.gov.uk
For further information on lost and stolen driving licenses visit www.dvla.gov.uk or www.dvlni.gov.uk
Q9. What impact will Sirene UK have upon human rights?
A. With approximately 10% of the data held referring to people, the Schengen Information System holds sensitive data. It is the protection of this data that is largely important to protecting human rights.
Data protection issues relating to the Schengen Information System are monitored by a Joint Supervisory Authority (JSA) composed of representatives from the data protection authorities of all participating states, including the UK’s Information Commissioner. The JSA advises on developments to the Schengen Information System and highlights to national authorities concerns over use and access. The JSA provides useful regular reports on its activities.
For the latest JSA report, click here
Q10. What impact will the Data Protection Act have upon Sirene UK?
A. Sirene UK is governed by and complies with the Data Protection Act. The convention which governs it has considerable safeguards built into it. The Information Commissioner’s advice was sought at an early stage in the development of Sirene UK. He also has the right to inspect the use of the Schengen Information System and the use of the data by law enforcement agencies within the UK.
Before the UK can access the data, it will have to assure a European evaluation team that the necessary safeguards are in place. In addition, the Sirene UK Bureau and the agencies using the system are subject to a peer review on a regular basis.
The Sirene UK Bureau will be responsible for validating the alerts and checking the quality of data placed onto the system by UK law enforcement officers
Subject access rights will not be affected and requests and enquiries will be dealt with through the Sirene UK Bureau.
For further information on your rights under the Data Protection Act 1998, click on www.dataprotection.gov.uk
Q11.
How do I find out if my personal information is held on the Schengen Information System (subject access rights)?
A. Enquiries of this nature as referred to under the Data Protection Act 1998 as ‘subject access rights’. Subject access rights will not be affected and requests and enquiries to find out if your personal details are held on the Schengen Information System will be dealt with through the Sirene UK Bureau. Exact procedures and contact details for subject access to personal data will be published on this website in due course.
For further information on your rights under the Data Protection Act 1998, click on www.dataprotection.gov.uk
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