Britain will demand a leading role in Europol after Brexit as ministers draw up plans to retain US-style membership of the international police force, the Telegraph can reveal.

The UK will push for a central role in the intelligence sharing agency but outside the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice following the decision to leave the European Union, according to a senior source.

The plan will form part of the UK's bargaining position with the EU and ministers will demand a new agreement similar to the one America has which would allow the UK to continue its leading role and keep staff based at the group's headquarters in the Hague.