European police chiefs have warned that end-to-end encryption undermines law enforcement’s ability to investigate crime.

At a meeting in London this week, 32 members of the National Crime Agency (NCA) and European police chiefs issued a statement expressing their concern that end-to-end encryption is being rolled out in a way that prevents lawful access to data as part of their investigations into the most serious crimes, including child sexual abuse, human trafficking, drug smuggling, murder, economic crime and terrorism offences.

While Meta has previously supported law enforcement by proactively reporting suspected instances of child sexual abuse, a decision to introduce end-to-end encryption on its messaging services could mean that it cannot respond to a warrant because the information is hidden.

The NCA said that between January and March this year, obtaining this kind of data led to 327 arrests, the seizure of 3.5 tonnes of Class A drugs, and the identification of 29 previously unknown threats to life.

But the agency warned that the vast majority of reports which are currently disseminated to UK police each year – 92 per cent from Facebook and 85 per cent from Instagram – will be lost as a result of the Meta’s decision to roll out end-to-end encryption.

NCA director general Graeme Biggar said that privacy and public safety did not need to be mutually exclusive and that companies have a responsibility to ensure criminals are identified and caught.

“They cannot protect their customers as they are no longer able see illegal behaviour on their own systems,” he added. “Child abuse does not stop just because companies choose to stop looking.

“These changes are also making it harder for us to investigate serious crime and protect the public, as the companies are less able to act on a warrant and provide us with the data of suspected criminals.”

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