Police Cooperation Research Articles

The evolution of doctrinal approaches to international police cooperation in the framework of the European Union

The article is devoted to the relevant in the science of international law the issue of evolution of doctrinal approaches to international police cooperation within the European Union. The literature on this issue is being investigated, on the basis of which observations of the nature of internal security management in the EU are made. The connection and the mutual stress between police integration and internal EU security policies are investigated on the one hand and the state sovereignty and the state monopoly to use force on the other. The evolution of the public sphere in the management of security policies is traced. The role of politicization in the management of international police cooperation is outlined. It is noted that politicization and public discourse can be both a favorable factor and an obstacle to police integration. The article highlights the evolution of management methods through soft and rigid law, as well as the growing role of internal and supranational actors in the management of police integration. The influence of differentiated informal networks on internal security management is noted. There is a trend available in the theoretical literature to mix powers through the generalization of cooperation networks. The issue of domestic and international internal security management is considered. It is concluded that not the state, but the network of police professionals determine the level of interest of states in integration in the field of international police cooperation. It is stated that a large array of research focuses on the institutionalization of the process of managing international police cooperation, while at the same time, relatively little work was carried out on the specific impact of differentiated networks on security management and the results of EU security policy. The asymmetry and variability of the integration preferences of states in the field of internal security are investigated. It is noted that this issue is best considered in the framework of the theory of functionalism. Such explanations are based on responding to common threats and functionality of ordinary institutions that allow to achieve certainty about the expected behavior of states.

The big law enforcement information exchange challenge

Aim: The paper attempts to take stock and present the most significant dilemmas and challenges of cross border criminal data and intelligence exchange between law enforcement authorities of EU Member States that can be experienced by police personnel in the field at the moment. Methodology: In addition to the relevant legislation, recommendations and best practices, the paper – based on personal experience as a police professional, supplemented by insights of the members of the EU law enforcement community – describes and illustrates the various challenges of today’s international police cooperation landscape. Findings: The EU law enforcement information exchange scene is in the midst of its transformation due to globalisation and the progressive information and communication technology advancement. The evolution of the institutionalised cross border criminal data and intelligence exchange has to keep up with the world of crime and reflect the challenges which arise from the sensitive nature of the policy area itself, where any substantial development can only be reached by innovation and capacity building of the law enforcement sector. Value: This snapshot is to give a structured overview and to draw more attention to the complexity and the controversies of the international law enforcement information exchange landscape, which policy-makers and police professionals have to face nowadays in order to successfully prevent, detect or investigate cross border criminal offences.

A bűnüldözési információcsere nagy kihívása

Aim: The paper attempts to take stock and present the most significant dilemmas and challenges of cross border criminal data and intelligence exchange between law enforcement authorities of EU Member States that can be experienced by police personnel in the field at the moment. Methodology: In addition to the relevant legislation, recommendations and best practices, the paper – based on personal experience as a police professional, supplemented by insights of the members of the EU law enforcement community – describes and illustrates the various challenges of today’s international police cooperation landscape. Findings: The EU law enforcement information exchange scene is in the midst of its transformation due to globalisation and the progressive information and communication technology advancement. The evolution of the institutionalised cross border criminal data and intelligence exchange has to keep up with the world of crime and reflect the challenges which arise from the sensitive nature of the policy area itself, where any substantial development can only be reached by innovation and capacity building of the law enforcement sector. Value: This snapshot is to give a structured overview and to draw more attention to the complexity and the controversies of the international law enforcement information exchange landscape, which policy-makers and police professionals have to face nowadays in order to successfully prevent, detect or investigate cross border criminal offences.

The emergence of international police cooperation in Europe with the creation of the TREVI group

The article examines the roots of international police cooperation in Europe, dating back to the creation of the TREVI Group in the 1970s. The format of the Group is considered and the reasons for its placement outside the format of the European Communities are explained. The centralization and formalization of international police cooperation in Europe, which was observed with the creation of the TREVI Group, is considered. The powers of the TREVI Group to fight terrorism are being investigated. It is emphasized that the granting of such powers to the Group was the result of a response to the threats faced by European states in the 1970s. The debate on the format of the group, which arose among European states, primarily between the United Kingdom, France and Germany, is considered. Germany’s proposals to create a centralized structure and the United Kingdom’s and France’s proposals to create an informal political association are under consideration. It is emphasized that the format of the Group reflects the asymmetric impact of security threats in different countries, which led to the unevenness of the preferences of the states during its formation. The Group’s chosen format reflected the «common denominator» of these political influences. Along with the existence of a common desire to develop international police cooperation, EU member states differed in their vision of the format of such cooperation. It is emphasized that the final format of the TREVI Group reflected the complex structural interdependencies in security issues between the member states of the European Communities and the politicization of security issues in domestic and international discourses. It is emphasized that the negotiations on the creation of the TREVI Group took place in conditions of strong internal politicization of the issue of combating terrorism, which shaped the preferences of states at the EU level. At the same time, the inability of states to agree on a formal structure led to the formation of the TREVI Group primarily as a platform for discussion and cooperation between participating states and an informal body promoting practical cooperation. It is concluded that the Trevi Group has become a relatively free political association, independent of the bodies of the European Communities.

경찰 효과성 측정 및 타당성 연구

The purpose of this study is to identify and validate how police effectiveness, one of the key variables in procedural justice theory, is measured. Police effectiveness is an instrumental measure of whether the police are successful in deterring and solving crime, and some research suggests that the more positively citizens perceive police effectiveness, the more willing they are to cooperate with the police. However, unlike procedural fairness and police legitimacy, the effect of police effectiveness on the dependent variable, police cooperation, is not consistent. For this purpose, we reviewed domestic and foreign studies centered on the police effectiveness variable, and revised and modified the items used in Sunshine & Tyler(2003)'s study to verify their validity. The results of a survey of 539 adult men and women living in Seoul with Korean nationality from October to November 2022 were used in the study, and validity was verified through reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The results of the analysis showed that the eight items used in the study are appropriate tools for measuring police effectiveness. This study is significant in that it validated the validity of a police effectiveness measurement tool, presented a unified standardized questionnaire in Korea, and explored the possibility of its utilization. On the other hand, since the performance of police activities as perceived by citizens is likely to differ by the field of police activities, this study suggests that it is necessary to prepare detailed criteria to appropriately measure it, as well as to conduct future studies such as repeated validation and further development of items with high validity and reliability.

Behind the scenes: a qualitative study on threats and violence in emergency medical services

The increasing prevalence of threats and violence against ambulance clinicians is a critical issue that has not been adequately studied. These incidents pose significant challenges to the provision of prehospital emergency care, affecting both the safety and well-being of the clinicians involved. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Swedish ambulance clinicians when encountering threats and violence during their work. A qualitative approach was used, involving semi-structured interviews with 11 ambulance clinicians from various regions of Sweden. The participants were selected to ensure diversity in gender, age, and educational background. The data were collected over three weeks in 2021 and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The analysis revealed three key categories related to the challenges faced by ambulance clinicians: Police cooperation challenges, Strategies for a safe care environment, and Impact during and relief after stressful events. These categories highlight the complexities of managing threats and violence in the field. This study sheds light on the multifaceted challenges that ambulance clinicians face due to threats and violence. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive training, effective communication, and clear role allocation in complex situations. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of organized support systems to help clinicians cope with the aftermath of stressful events.

Crime Knows No Borders: The Necessity of International Police Cooperation

This article delves into the evolution of international police cooperation, examining its origins, challenges, and significance in addressing transnational crime. The study highlights the influence of globalization, technological advancements, and increased international travel on criminal activities, which have necessitated more sophisticated and coordinated policing efforts across borders. The discussion traces the development of police cooperation from the 19th century, where crime was initially viewed through a moral lens, to the present day, where a more scientific and international approach to policing has emerged. The article underscores the complexities of multilateral and bilateral cooperation, each with its advantages and limitations. Multilateral efforts, exemplified by organizations like INTERPOL, promote accountability and transparency but are often hindered by bureaucratic challenges. Conversely, bilateral cooperation offers agility and direct engagement but faces issues of trust and accountability. The study concludes by advocating for the continuous refinement of international policing strategies, emphasizing the importance of tailored approaches to specific operational needs. Through effective collaboration, law enforcement agencies can better combat global crime networks and enhance international security in an increasingly interconnected world.

Police oversight in practice: the Special Investigations Unit and civilian police oversight in Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of Ontario is a civilian police oversight agency responsible for investigating serious incidents involving police officers and civilians, with the power to charge police officers with criminal offences. Created in 1990, the SIU is considered a pioneer in civilian-led oversight, however, little is known about how the SIU conducts investigations, the complainants in these investigations, and the routine work of this oversight agency. This article examines a variety of indicators to document the work and activity of the SIU, illustrating important aspects of the agency’s performance in the process. Important trends regarding the nature of police misconduct, violence, and use of lethal force are analysed. Our study uncovers previously unknown trends regarding complainants in SIU investigations, including the prevalence of certain characteristics like known mental health disabilities and the relationship between the substantiation of complaints by the SIU and the criminal activity of the complainant. This study empirically documents the nature of police cooperation with oversight. By analysing different indicators of agency performance and work, this study makes an important contribution to the study of police oversight in general, and the findings hold value for understanding police use of force, the nature of police criminality and misconduct, and the functioning of civilian police oversight in practice.

Research on International Police Cooperation from the Perspective of Game Theory — Take Extradition Cooperation as an Example

The article analyzes extradition cooperation in international police cooperation from the perspective of game theory, and discusses the supervision mechanism, responsibility mechanism and interest mechanism of extradition cooperation based on “collaborative game”, “coordination game” and “guarantee game”. It proposed optimization paths such as accelerating the signing of treaties, expanding the scope of application, simplifying extradition procedures, using alternative measures, and relying on international organizations, in order to help my country improve its extradition mechanism and strengthen the effectiveness of overseas pursuit of fugitives.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TASKS OF THE OMBUDSMAN AS PART OF THE INDEPENDENT BODY MONITORING INAPPROPRIATE POLICE ACTIONS

Police services and special services in a democratic state are geared toward providing the state and its citizens with security, i.e. protection against internal and external threats. However, one cannot forget that police activities, in their essence, significantly interfere with fundamental freedoms and human rights. The establishment of the civilian oversight is often a difficult process, with necessary factors such as political support, police cooperation, activist support, resources, management and leadership and public attitudes. The supervision of the police activities in the external system remains largely in Poland within the competence of the Commissioner for Human Rights. Commissioner for Human Rights is the constitutional authority for the legal control and protection, who safeguards human and civic freedoms and rights specified in the Constitution and other legal acts. In his/her activities, the Commissioner is integral and independent from other state authorities. The aim of this paper is to outline the general oversight of police mechanism, made by the Commissioner of Human Rights. The paper presents the reasons for the independent investigation of police complaints and for restoring confidence in the complaints system and in police. For this paper, the term oversight of police will be associated with the institutions outside the Police, which have power to control the way police departments handle complaints about the disputed police conduct.

Research on International Police Cooperation from the Perspective of Foreign - Related Rule of Law - Taking Lancang - Mekong Law Enforcement and security Cooperation as an Example

The current level and capacity of China's international police cooperation is clearly unable to adapt to the evolving and increasingly rampant situation of transnational crime. In order to better safeguard national interests, it is necessary to strengthen the guidance of foreign-related rule of law thinking on international police work. As a good example of international police cooperation, the Lancang Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation (LLEC) is a good example of international police cooperation, which is a good example to think about the internal logic between international police cooperation and the rule of law, analyse the shortcomings and deficiencies in legislation, treaties, jurisdiction, platforms and talents, and then put forward a path to optimize the international police cooperation under the perspective of the rule of law and propose policies and recommendations for the deepening of China's international police cooperation in the Lancang Basin. Suggestions.

Watching the guards: Ensuring compliance with fundamental rights at the external borders

AbstractThe essay deals with the enhancement of the legal framework for informal readmissions at internal borders enshrined in the proposal on an amended Schengen Border Code, which in turn requires enhancement of bilateral police cooperation. It focuses on the impact of the new rules on the prohibition on police controls equivalent to border checks to highlight that the case‐law of the Court of Justice on the matter creates a huge grey area which is critical for the ideal of a border‐check‐free Union. Increased use of video surveillance and other technologies also faces the legal bottleneck of prohibition on police controls having equivalent effects to border checks, as well as raising serious concerns on fundamental rights. It is argued that the situation resulting from these amendments to the Schengen Border Code should be considered in terms of an impending rule of law crisis at internal borders. [Correction added on 19 July 2024 after first online publication: The Abstract section was previously omitted and has been included in this version.]

Rule of law backsliding within the EU: The case of informal readmissions of third‐country nationals at internal borders

AbstractThe essay deals with the enhancement of the legal framework for informal readmissions at internal borders enshrined in the former Schengen Border Code (now Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders), which in turn requires enhancement of bilateral police cooperation. It focuses on the impact of the new rules on the prohibition on police controls equivalent to border checks to highlight that the case‐law of the Court of Justice on the matter creates a huge grey area which is critical for the ideal of a border‐check‐free Union. Increased use of video surveillance and other technologies also faces the legal bottleneck of prohibition on police controls having equivalent effects to border checks, as well as raising serious concerns about fundamental rights. It is argued that the situation resulting from these amendments to the former Schengen Border Code should be considered in terms of an impending rule of law crisis at internal borders.

INTERNATIONAL POLICE COOPERATION: REDUCING GLOBAL CRIME AND HARM

On November 14, 2023, Assistant Commissioner Bruce O’Brien, New Zealand Police, presented International Police Cooperation: Reducing Global Crime and Harm for this year’s West Coast Security Conference. The key points discussed were the advantages and challenges of collaborative international policing, upcoming challenges due to technological advancements, and the significance of advancing through consent, legitimacy, and evidence-based global policing practices.
 
 Received: 12-19-2023
 Revised: 01-26-2024

ZAŠTITA I PRENOS TAJNIH PODATAKA U BOSNI I HERCEGOVINI SA OSVRTOM NA MEĐUNARODNU OPERATIVNU POLICIJSKU SARADNJU

In this paper, the basic terms related to the protection and transfer of secret data will be clarified and defined through an overview of the Law on Protection of Secret Data of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with special reference to international operational police cooperation. Considering that secret data differ from other data in that they have special significance for a certain country, are obtained by special methods, and are commonly used by leading political structures in making political decisions, etc., there is a need to address this topic. The paper will use the descriptive method of key terms from the Law on Protection of Secret Data of Bosnia and Herzegovina to indicate the importance of protection as well as secret data transfer. The subject and task of this paper is to highlight the basic concepts of secret data protection, as well as the competences and powers of the state security authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, all to assist officials who apply the Law on Protection of Secret Data in their work.

Interaction between european states in the development of international police cooperation in Europe in the 1980s–1990s

Interaction between european states in the development of international police cooperation in Europe in the 1980s–1990s

International Collaborative Responses to Transnational Cybercrime: how China Strengthen its Capacity to Combat Transnational Cybercrime

The borderless nature of the Internet has greatly facilitated the growth of crime in cyberspace. Cybercrime today has caused huge economic losses worldwide and is violating the right to privacy on a massive scale. The consequences of cybercrime are serious and often occur in different countries and regions. The priority of territorial jurisdiction has been affected by transnational cybercrime., and its convenient application has been lost when the results of the crime are generalized. The basis of subjective territoriality and objective territoriality would be unclear. The abstract cross-border nature of cybercrime has led to frequent conflicts of jurisdiction among States and may even lead to the legal hegemony of cyber-technology powerhouses. The traditional extradition mechanism has gradually failed to respond to the interstate demand to combat transnational cybercrime. In recent years, China has not only introduced strategic policies at the national level to safeguard cybersecurity and combat cybercrime, but has also made progress in criminal legislation, administrative legislation and international cooperation legislation. China has also accumulated experience in police cooperation to combat transnational cybercrime. In order to better cooperate with other countries in international cybercrime , China should actively participate in the formulation of international conventions and regional multilateral agreements on the punishment of cybercrime. It should also further improve its domestic legislation.

정부기관 청렴도 인식이 경찰신뢰에 미치는 영향과 정부기관 신뢰의 매개효과

Looking at previous studies on factors affecting trust in police in Korea, we can see that most of them are limited to variables related to police activities (fairness, effectiveness, etc.). However, the police is one of the government agencies under the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, and improving police activities or citizens' awareness of police activities alone may not be enough to increase trust in the police. Previous overseas studies have gone further to identify factors influencing trust in the police through comparative studies using country-level variables. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of citizens' perception of the integrity of government agencies on trust in the police and to verify the mediating effect of trust in government agencies in that influence relationship. Accordingly, the Korea Institute of Public Administration conducted a quantitative statistical analysis based on the results of a survey collected as part of the 2021 “Study on Governance and the Level of Trust in Korean Society.” As a result of the analysis, trust in government agencies was found to have a significant partial mediating effect between the integrity of government agencies and trust in the police. These research results suggest that there is a need to more broadly discuss improving trust in the police in order to elicit police cooperation as an essential element of community police activities, which is the basis of the modern police activity paradigm. Therefore, in follow-up research, related influencing factors should be explored through a review of overseas previous research, and scale development and validation work to apply it domestically should be prioritized.

Interpol's strategy in enhancing the regional network to combat human trafficking in West Africa

The main problem in this study is the human trafficking practices in West Africa. Trafficking in human beings is a serious transnational crime involving blackmail, exploitation, and forced labor. Victims of human trafficking are often forced to work in modern slave industries, such as prostitution, agriculture, and manufacturing. They can also experience physical and psychological violence. Human trafficking has many root causes, including poverty, gender inequality, and conflict. Research methods use qualitative descriptive approaches with data analysis techniques that focus on understanding a problem, context, complexity, and subjectivity to more detail about the data source. Results: Interpol's role and initiatives have saved hundreds of victims of human trafficking in West Africa. The organization has been a valuable partner for governments and law enforcement agencies in the region in combating human trafficking crimes and rescuing victims. Interpol's efforts to rescue victims of human trafficking in West Africa are critical to combating this crime. By raising awareness, identifying victims, disrupting trafficking networks, and providing support to victims. Interpol recognizes the urgent need to facilitate interstate police cooperation in addressing transnational crime, regional security and resilience.

100 Years of INTERPOL: its Position and Role within the European Union

Despite INTERPOL’s achievements through its global connection with and between all police forces, the current question is what place the largest international police organisation will take in police cooperation within the European Union. This question is indeed relevant given the European Union’s increasing role in the regulation, policy and coordination in the field of European police cooperation. It has also become clear in recent years that the European Union has been striving for more strategic autonomy in this globalised world and more geopolitical independence. This has not only been the case in the areas of energy supply, climate and defence, but also in police cooperation. In my current positions as IINTERPOL Vice-President for Europe, but also as a person directly involved in European police cooperation (including through the chairmanship of the Europol Management Board and the chairmanship of COSI 1 during the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2024), I think it would be interesting to reflect on that in this article.Aim: Opinion on the future role of INTERPOL in the European Union.Methodology: The various regulations and actions regarding police cooperation within the European Union are examined from the perspective of how INTERPOL relates to them.Findings: Despite the various initiatives developed within the European Union to establish internal European police cooperation both through the European agency Europol and its various European information systems, it is clear that INTERPOL remains a vital enabler of European police cooperation. Value: In the light of the willingness from the European Union to more strategic autonomy, also regarding police and security, and given the ongoing negotiations between EU and INTERPOL, it is clear that consideration must be given to the role that INTERPOL can still play within the EU.