Brexit may impair UK's capacity to fight terror - expert warns

An anti-terrorism expert has warned that the United Kingdom risks losing opportunities for international cooperation in the fight against terror, should it exit the European Union.

Nigel Inkster, a former director of Intelligence at UK’s Secret Intelligence Service, added that staying with the EU will help Britain maintain its traditional relations with other EU partners in intellegince sharing to combat terror.

“The biggest development has been the exchange of these large data sets and I’m talking here about travel information, I’m talking about financial information, telephone communication records, other forms of communication records. All of which the intelligence services of Europe need in order to identify and narrow down their focus on particular targets and individuals of concern,” he said.

Nigel Inkster, ex MI6: to fight ISIS we need access to EU travel and phone databases. We would lose it with brexit. pic.twitter.com/weaXvLQRSR

— Mark Leonard (@markhleonard) April 20, 2016

The UK has already gained from the joint work of EU partners who have in recent years made significant steps in compiling and analyzing data, to address potential terror threats in the region.

Britons are expected to vote on Thursday in a referendum that will see the UK stay or exit the EU.

Even if the UK were to stay, Inkster warns there will still be political concerns and believes the ruling Conservative party may struggle in the aftermath of Thursday’s vote.

Reuters