Britain plans to pick and choose from hundreds of EU crime-fighting measures, Theresa May says

Theresa May is set to announce that Britain wants to remain part of the European arrest warrant scheme (PA)

Theresa May will announce on Tuesday that Britain wants to remain part of the European arrest warrant scheme and stay in the Europol crime-fighting agency, but to quit almost 100 other European Union justice and police measures.

The Home Secretary will say the UK plans to pull out of 133 EU criminal justice laws next year, but will then seek to “opt in” to around 35 of the measures. They include the arrest warrant, which supporters say is essential for speeding the return of criminal fugitives.

The announcement follows more than a year of wrangling within the Coalition, and the final list was only agreed last week following a meeting between David Cameron and Nick Clegg. Some Tory right-wingers will be disappointed the Home Secretary has not gone further.