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Scotland and the UK safer together

Threats to Scotland and the UK from organised crime gangs, cyber criminals and global terrorism are best confronted with Scotland inside the UK, the Home Secretary explained today.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

皇冠体育app Home Secretary was in Scotland to launch 鈥楽cotland analysis: Security鈥�, the seventh in a series of UK government papers to inform the debate ahead of next year鈥檚 independence referendum.

皇冠体育app paper examines how the UK and Scotland derive mutual benefit from an integrated approach to security, cyber, justice and policing, as well as from security exports and our international alliances and relationships.

皇冠体育app possible consequences for both Scotland and the continuing UK of a vote for independence are subject to analysis in the paper. It stresses that while the UK does work with other countries, such as the Republic of Ireland, to improve security and fight organised crime, there is a significant difference between these relationships and Scotland鈥檚 current position as a privileged and influential part of the UK.

皇冠体育app analysis concludes that independence could disturb the united protection provided to Scotland by the UK鈥檚 security and intelligence architecture.

Scottish referendum

Key implications of Scottish independence include:

  • Scotland facing a technically complex and expensive requirement to establish its security infrastructure. In the meantime, there would be a risk to both Scotland and the continuing UK of diminished security.

  • Scotland no longer being covered by the UK鈥檚 National Cyber Security Programme, which strengthens the services the public rely on and makes the UK a safer place for businesses to operate.

  • Co-operation between Police Scotland and other UK forces may not be as straightforward as it is now. Long established UK-wide laws make it easier to pursue justice across borders despite different legal systems and police jurisdictions.

  • A limit to the amount of information the continuing UK would be able to share with Scotland. Under the 鈥淐ontrol Principle鈥�, the UK could not share the kind of information used to fight and counter terrorism with Scotland, passed to it by another country, unless the UK had that country鈥檚 consent.

Home Secretary 皇冠体育appresa May said:

This report sets out in plain terms the security consequences of independence, not just for Scotland but for the UK as a whole. Undoubtedly we are stronger and safer together.

皇冠体育app national security risks the UK faces are complex and changing. Terrorists and organised criminals will seek new ways to exploit any weakness in our justice and policing capabilities, and the scale of emerging threats, such as cyber crime, demands a comprehensively resourced response.

Now is the time to work more closely together for the security of all citizens of the UK.

皇冠体育app UK government believes that Scotland is better off as part of the UK, and that the UK is stronger, safer and more secure with Scotland as part of it.

In the event of a vote in favour of leaving the UK, Scotland would become an entirely new state and would have to establish its own security arrangements.

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Published 29 October 2013