Regulation of Cross-Border Law Enforcement: ‘Locks’ and ‘Dams’ to Regional and International Flows of Policing

Trans-jurisdictional policing can eventuate within a number of different environments: in federal states comprising different jurisdictions, in bilateral and multilateral settings and in regional contexts, for example, in the European Union (EU). Inter-jurisdictional flows of policing can be impeded by, for example, legal differences, lack of trust, lack of cooperative leadership, lack of knowledge about the other jurisdiction, etc. This article aims at exploring the facilitators of flows of policing by looking at two different systems and the obstacles within, as well as the interaction between them. The systems chosen are Greater China and the EU as they both comprise a number of different jurisdictions and are very distinct with regard to political, cultural and legal variables. It will be explored whether and how flows of policing are encouraged by legislation within and between the systems as well as what factors might determine the conclusion of a particular legal framework for cooperation