EUROPEAN CRIME PREVENTION POLICIES.

(2021-2023)

European Crime Prevention Network

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SECTION I: REASON FOR CHOOSING THE TOPIC ..............................................................3
SECTION II: CURRENT STAGE OF RESEARCH ....................................................................3
SECTION III: IN-DEPTH DEVELOPMENT OF TOPIC ...........................................................3
SECTION IV: CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................................................6
SECTION V: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES ..................................................................7

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 SECTION I: REASON FOR CHOOSING THE TOPIC

I chose this topic out of the desire to study and deepen the main trends of the crime
phenomenon at the European level, which presents the greatest danger to society.

SECTION II: CURRENT STAGE OF RESEARCH

The current study of our research is the identification of threats, vulnerabilities and
European security risks in the field of crime through news related to
At the beginning of the cooperation between the police forces in Europe was the operation
to prepare a common institutional response to the terrorist threat and the development of cross-
border crime.
In order to be able to develop and support crime prevention within the EU, it is important to
firmly establish a good European crime prevention network, in addition, the Network seeks to
establish partnerships with other relevant bodies, organizations and agencies, based on a stakeholder
analysis interested parties and meetings with different partners to agree on forms of communication
and information exchange.
EUCPN is currently establishing closer links with EUROPOL, CEPOL and Eurostat. as well
as with other international and EU organisations, networks and initiatives.

SECTION III: IN-DEPTH DEVELOPMENT OF THE THEME

The Council of Europe, on 28 May 2001, established the European Crime Prevention
Network (EUCPN) by decision 2001/427/JHA1
Previously, at the Justice and Home Affairs Council of March 2001, the Ministers of Justice
and Home Affairs of the EU Member States reached an agreement on a European crime prevention
policy and its constituent elements. The network consists of national representatives appointed by
each member state, plus alternates and crime prevention contact points from academia or umbrella
organisations.
EUCPN will produce readable and understandable products, establish closer cooperation
between researchers and practitioners, and increase the use of information through the use of
marketing techniques. The following activities are essential: the creation of the network's website,
which has been criticized for its lack of transparency and weak accountability structures. These
criticisms are not unfounded. The governmental structure of the European Union - which gives
different powers to the intergovernmental Council of Ministers, the European Commission and the
European Parliament - fragments the authority over Europol. The result is the collection and
pooling of quality-assessed information, the collection of information on comparable statistics, the
identification of research gaps and the establishment of methods of cooperation.

Areas of focus and actions

A) To be a point of reference for the target groups of the Network
As the network was established to prevent crime in Europe, its organisation, objectives and
activities must be known to the target groups. On the other hand, if the Network addresses the needs
of the target groups and orients its activity based on the demand, the contacts will be intensified and
expanded with the members of the target groups and the means of channeling the interests in a
bottom-up way. the direction must be explored.
Measures will be taken with the following focus:2
 The network identifies the information needs of each target group.

https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vitgbgi8d0z2
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Hebberecht, P. & Baillergeau, E. (eds.), Social crime prevention in late modern Europe. A comparative perspective.
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Brussels: VUB Press. 2012, p. 26

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  The network identifies relevant means of communication with target groups.
 The network focuses on raising awareness among target groups about the importance of
crime prevention.
To address the above areas of interest, the Network:3
1. Continue to develop a contact database of target group members in line with policy cycle
priorities.
2. Improving the Network's communication strategy.
3. Developing a role as a wider EU crime prevention 'platform'.
4. Providing a dynamic and interactive redesign of the EUCPN Newsletter.
5. The content, design and usability of the EUCPN website should be maintained according
to current web standards
6. Update the application of the uniform feedback tool for communication channels and
EUCPN events
7. The principle of rotation will be preserved both in relation to the presidencies of the
EUCPN and to the presidency of the council.
8. Assuming funding is available, the EUCPN Secretariat should be further strengthened.
As an impact of actions in Aim A, members of the target group will be identified and
contact with them will be intensified. The communication of the network will be renewed and the
information about its activities available to members of the target group will become more
attractive.
B) Dissemination of qualitative knowledge on crime prevention
As the network intends to play an important role in the dissemination of qualitative
knowledge, the shared information should enable the improvement of crime prevention in the
Member States. By collecting and disseminating information on facts, theories and practices, the
Network will contribute to finding the most appropriate forms of intervention for particular
problems and to standardizing solutions.
Measures will be taken with the following focus:4
 The network develops the concept of crime prevention.
 The network collects and disseminates information on relevant crime issues.
 The network collects and disseminates information on effective interventions and
good practices.
 The network collects information on effective means of implementing interventions.
To address the above areas of interest, the EUCPN must:5
1. Intensive exchange of information through the network, research analyses, evaluation of
good/good practices and development of recommendations on specific topics (identified by the
Trios of Presidents)
2. Analysis and development of the concept of the Crime Prevention Network
3. Dissemination of information about relevant crime problems and appropriate responses to
them.
4. Evaluation of the impact of crime prevention activity.
5. The EUCPN should further develop its range of outputs to increase capacity to respond to
key stakeholder needs
As an impact of actions under Objective B, the range of information on relevant crime
threats and good crime prevention practices available to target groups will be expanded.
Recommended approaches and methods will be brought to the attention of target groups and means
of appropriate evaluation of crime prevention activities will be promoted.
C) Supporting crime prevention activities at the national and local level
To increase the preventive approach in Europe, it is necessary to face the challenges of the
target groups. By strengthening the target groups with up-to-date know-how, the network should

3
Hebberecht, P. & Baillergeau, E, op.cit .p.21
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Hebberecht, P. & Duprez, D. (eds), The prevention and security policies in Europe. Brussels: VUB Press, 2002, p.143
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take into account and address the difficulties caused by the diversity of national conditions of crime
prevention activities.
Measures will be taken with the following focus:6
 The network explores issues and solutions for funding crime prevention projects,
programs and initiatives
 The network explores communication issues.
 The network explores the significance of context in the implementation of good
practice.
1. Review of EU funding sources and national funding mechanisms for crime prevention
activities.
2. Publish key documents in national languages.
3. Elaboration of recommendations regarding the impact of context on crime prevention.
4. Implementation of good/good practices by the member states.
5. Funding of activities supported by EUCPN should be more transparent
6. Improving links between EUCPN and national crime prevention institutions
As an impact of the actions in Objective C, the range of information available to members of
the target group on the possibilities and know-how of financing crime prevention activities will be
expanded. Assistance for the adaptation of ECPA winning projects and selected key documents into
national languages will be made available to target groups.
D) Contribute to EU crime prevention policy and strategy and contribute to different aspects
of EU crime prevention in relation to EU strategic priorities.
For preventive work to be part of the way crime is managed in Europe, the EU should be
supported by the network. The best use of the existing knowledge base is achieved by establishing
regular information exchange schemes with relevant European actors.
Measures will be taken with the following focus:
For preventive work to be part of the way crime is managed in Europe, the EU should be
supported by the network. The best use of the existing knowledge base is achieved by establishing
regular information exchange schemes with relevant European actors.
Measures will be taken with the following focus:7
 The EUCPN is stepping up communication with the commission and other relevant
EU bodies and agencies
 The network uses its access to information from other EU fora.
 The EUCPN provides specific ideas and input to crime prevention initiatives at EU
level, if requested.
To address the above areas of interest, EUCPN:
1. Establish closer cooperation with relevant EU bodies, agencies and organisations.
2. Increasing the visibility of the EUCPN.
3. The EUCPN will systematically align its priorities with the EU's agreed priorities in the
fight against crime
4. The EUCPN should develop its role in contributing to the development of EU and
Member States' crime prevention policies
5. A more strategic approach to determining the activities of the EUCPN and strengthening
its role in providing input to policy-making at EU and Member State level
6. In addition to its relationship with individual entities, the EUCPN should seek to develop
a function as a wider EU 'platform', bringing together a wide range of European and international
organizations with a role in crime prevention.

6
Højbjerg Jacobsen, Rasmus (2013). Hands-on Guide to Cost-Benefit-Analysis of Crime Prevention Efforts. CEBR –
Center for Economic and Business Research. Copenhagen.
http://eucpn.org/goodpractice/showdoc.asp?docid=308 , last accessed on 26.02.2022
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Hebberecht, P. & Duprez, D. (eds), op.cit , p.154

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 As an impact of the actions in Objective D, cooperation schemes and protocols will be
created with relevant European and international partners and will contribute to shaping the crime
prevention policy at the EU level.
Supporting crime prevention activities at national and local level In addition to substantive
support through the development of reports and tools, the third objective, namely supporting crime
prevention activities at national and local level, is also addressed by providing information on to
financing. and implementing crime prevention projects. For example, during the Hungarian
Presidency in 2011, a short report was distributed among EUCPN members and published on the
website, listing various national and EU funding sources and channels related to crime prevention
activities53. Information on the deadlines for calls to apply for funding is always communicated
through EUCPN communication channels (e-mail, website, newsletter,...) and the EUCPN
Secretariat provides assistance in applicants' search for partners for projects in other member states.
Another example of supporting crime prevention activities is the publication of a guide on how to
determine the costs and benefits of crime prevention, developed in a project led by Denmark. This
practical guide aims to provide support to policy makers and practitioners who wish to carry out
reliable cost-benefit analyzes of crime prevention programs in Europe54. Finally, the projects of the
Best Practice Conference and European Crime Prevention Award nominees are promoted through
the website and quarterly newsletter. The experts from the winning projects are also promoted
through various workshops.8
To be able to develop and support crime prevention across the EU and to be involved in EU
crime prevention policy and strategy, it is important to firmly establish a good European crime
prevention network. Therefore, the Network develops and implements a Network Management
Plan, taking into account the results of the external and internal evaluation and develops a structured
response to the conclusions and recommendations of these evaluations (see also the next paragraph
on EUCPN perspectives). In addition, the Network seeks to establish partnerships with other
relevant bodies, organizations and agencies, based on a stakeholder analysis and meetings with
different partners to agree on forms of communication and information exchange. EUCPN is
currently establishing closer links with EUROPOL, CEPOL and Eurostat, as well as with other
international and EU organisations, networks and initiatives.

SECTION IV: CONCLUSIONS

As previously mentioned and in accordance with Article 9 of Council Decision

2009/902/JHA, the European Commission submitted an evaluation report to the Council on 30
November 2012 regarding the EUCPN and its activities. This evaluation placed particular emphasis
on the effectiveness of the work of the network and its secretariat, taking due account of the
interaction between the network and other relevant stakeholders55. The report showed that the
EUCPN has worked well and that many shortcomings have been addressed since the last evaluation
in 2009. However, there are still some challenges in improving the functioning of the network, but
also in determining the direction in which the EUCPN will evolve over the next several years.
These challenges are summarized in 20 recommendations and are related to: (i) the performance,
impact and added value of the EUCPN: aligning its priorities with agreed EU priorities,
contributing to the development of EU and Member States' crime prevention policies, allying with
other EU entities, developing and disseminating results and best practices to key stakeholders and
improving the website; (ii) its organization and governance: providing guidelines to support the
EUCPN rotating presidencies, defining the role of national representatives (Council members),
observers and contact points, as well as the functioning of the Secretariat; (iii) its possibilities to
develop into a "Crime Prevention Observatory" as suggested in the Stockholm Program (cf. above).
Following this assessment report, the EUCPN established a working group and developed a
concrete action plan that sets out how and when these recommendations will be implemented. The
8
Hebberecht, P. & Baillergeau, E. (eds.) (2012), op.cit .p.143

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relevant working groups at EU level are regularly informed about the further development of the
network. The next evaluation of the EUCPN is planned in 2016. Finally, to conclude, the EUCPN
has continued to evolve into a true European center of expertise in crime prevention over the last
decade. This process has been strengthened by the establishment of a permanent Secretariat which
is responsible for the administrative, technical and analytical support of the Network. With a variety
of activities and a range of different outputs, such as the toolkit and the series of thematic papers on
various topics, the organization of expert workshops, the European Crime Prevention Award and
the Best Practice Conference, the EUCPN supports initiatives to crime prevention at European
level. , at the national and local levels and increases the links between these levels. Internal and
external evaluations of the network, which are regularly scheduled, provide feedback on the
functioning of the EUCPN and make recommendations for professionalizing and further improving
its performance. They will support the network in fulfilling its long-term mission and make it an
important reference when it comes to crime prevention in Europe.

SECTION V: BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

1. HEBBERECHT, P. & Baillergeau, E. (eds.), Social crime prevention in late modern

Europe. A comparative perspective . Brussels: VUB Press. 2012.
2. HEBBERECHT, P. & Duprez, D. (eds ), The prevention and security policies in
Europe. Brussels: VUB Press , 2002.
3. HØJBJERG Jacobsen, Rasmus, Hands-on Guide to Cost-Benefit-Analysis of Crime
Prevention Effort s. CEBR – Center for Economic and Business Research.
Copenhagen. 2013.
4. https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vitgbgi8d0z2
5. http://eucpn.org/goodpractice/showdoc.asp?docid=308, last accessed on 26.02.2022.