ABSTRACT
Information exchange registers, such as Schengen Information System, function as broad search registers for wanted and missing persons and things. But these registers also include requests for foreign police to take action on behalf of the agency that made the registration. This chapter analyses the regulation of arrests and the obtaining of evidence, through hits in databases. The traditional notion of international cooperation in criminal matters involves extradition and mutual legal assistance, but even such cooperation presupposes practicalities such as seizure or arrest. The chapter explores the role of the European Union bodies Europol and Eurojust. It looks at requests for surveillance or specific checks. Information on persons and vehicles may be registered so that surveillance or specific checks will be performed abroad. The purpose of observation may be to collect evidence or analyse the structure of criminal networks. 'Specific checks' means search in/of a person or object/property.
