Europe agrees on exchange of criminal records / The Register, 2 June 2008
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/02/ec_police_exchange/
John Oates
"Criminal records will only be stored on national databases not on a European-wide megadatabase. The Commission aims to create interconnection software by the beginning of next year. The information is needed in order for police to carry out effective criminal record checks for people working with children or other vulnerable groups. Courts need to the information so they can sentence people on the basis of all their past convictions."