Sirene UK deals with the seamless integration of the Schengen Information System with the PNC and the support networks of the Sirene Bureaux across Europe.
The Schengen Information System works by holding a number of specific alerts on people, vehicles and property.
There are five types of alerts that law enforcement officers can either create or respond to depending on the circumstances and policy:
- Alerts on persons wanted for extradition to another member state
- Alerts on missing persons
- Alerts to request a locate report on witnesses and people for court appearances
- Alerts to request information reports on major criminals and linked vehicles
- Alerts on stolen vehicles, trailers, firearms, identity documents and registered banknotes
When Sirene UK is operational, officers will be able to perform PNC checks on foreign vehicles, persons and ID documents from within the Schengen countries. If that person or object has an alert placed against them, the officer will be notified and provided with information in order to take the correct initial action. Likewise, law enforcement officers in the other Schengen countries can check the details of a UK national, registered vehicle, passport or driving licence.
When creating or responding to an alert, UK law enforcement officers will require the support of the Sirene UK Bureau.
All of the countries using the Schengen Information System have a national Sirene Bureau to administer the system. Based within the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the Sirene UK Bureau supports UK officers by:
- providing them with supplementary information on how to proceed when they get a positive hit on an alert on a person, vehicle or property
- validating the details of the alerts placed by UK officers
- liaison with other Sirene Bureaux throughout the Schengen countries on specific cases and on the transfer of supplementary information
© Copyright SOCA. All rights reserved 2006.
|
