If hes a convicted murderer in Latvia

From the BBC:

A man wanted in connection with the disappearance of 14-year-old Alice Gross is a convicted murderer, police have revealed.

The schoolgirl was last seen on 28 August when she was spotted on CCTV by the Grand Union Canal in west London.

Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalns, who used the same route to get to work, went missing a week later.

The 41-year-old served seven years in prison for murder in Latvia after being convicted in 1998, police said.

Det Supt Carl Mehta, from Scotland Yard's Homicide and Major Crime Command, said Mr Zalkalns may pose a risk to the public.

He added that he was not wanted in Latvia, he had served his time and had not been on police records in the UK.

I thought one of the "advantages" of EU membership was the sharing of such information. Whether he's involved in the disappearance of Alice or not, it's yet another disgrace that he's free to wander in this country despite being "not wanted in Latvia".

Not wanted as in he's not a wanted man.

Ambiguous, I grant you.

From The Telegraph:

However Latvian authorities have insisted they were under no obligation to forewarn their British colleagues about Zalkalns conviction.

"According to law, we don't have to inform about previous convictions. We didn't get a request back then whether he was convicted. Once we got a request, we answered," said one Latvian official.

"It's impossible to warn authorities in advance because the borders between Latvia and the UK are open."


That's OK then. No doubt "lessons will be learned" and Ministers will bleat "we will do everything in future to ensure such a situation never arises in future" blah blah blah blah.............

Took the words there Biscar. I was about to say try getting into the States with any sort of a record and your feet won't touch the floor.

From Interpol's website:

The police forces of the 16 countries of West Africa are faced with threats of terrorism and organized crime, in particular the trafficking in human beings, drugs and weapons.

In response to these threats, the European Union and INTERPOL launched the WAPIS programme in September 2012 in order to create a system of police databases, linked at national, regional and global level.

The programme will allow West African police officers in their work environment – including at border posts – to obtain information about people, vehicles and identity documents. This information will be shared by INTERPOL’s 190 member countries and thus help the police to better protect the people of the whole region and beyond.

what about sex offenders? Is that info passed on cross border within Europe, because those convicted in the UK would be on a register?

The whole thing is a bit of an issue when one of the first lines of enquiry would presumably be to look at convicted murderers / fiddlers.

Yes, well Interpol has no conception of how West African Police Forces operate. Latvia would be interested in suspects who are wanted for crimes in Latvia


My point was that the EU recognises the need for linking police databases and has apparently donated much money to assist setting up a system in West Africa, yet the Latvian Authorities state it is impossible to warn us (a fellow EU member) in advance.

At least the EU Authorities are right on the ball in ensuring that vacuum cleaners are of the correct wattage across the continent.

He was convicted in Latvia! Hopefully both will be found safe and well. Then he should be deported. But that can't happen as he has a child and the right to a family life apparently.

How the **** does he afford a 3 bed semi in West London ? Must be £500 k worth of house .

pandora1963
pandora1963 18 Sep 14 18:51 Joined: 28 Aug 07 | Topic/replies: 17,365 | Blogger: pandora1963's blog
ffs the guy hasn't been convicted yet and people are stringing him up

Shouldnt be here. Another shocking example of immigration checks

Good point elise. in the States you'd need a visa and then background checks are done i guess.

With the comparable size of the States and Europe, moving within the EU is not much different to moving inter state in the US.

As Shrewd Dude says....

Not many on this thread understand the laws...

He's an EU citizen , we are in the EU , he can come and go as he pleases , nothing to do with border controls/ police .He could have 'paedo' branded on his forehead and they'd still have to let him come and live here if thats what he wants to do .

The only exceptions as far as i know is if the home secretary decides someone is likely to cause trouble in a political sense , then they can be kept out on the basis they could cause a breach of the peace . This is only used for political figures  , like the dutch guy that rants about muslims who was banned from coming over here .It is never invoked for rapists etc

We are not signed up to the Schengen Agreement. We still have the power to check exactly who arrives in the country. In theory we are allowed to block criminals if they can be considered a danger to the public. In practice political correctness and inertia prevents us from protecting our own citizens.