Europol: High Tech Crime Experts Meeting 2009
The Hague – The Netherlands. [europol.europa.eu] Improved and closer cooperation in combating cyber-crime is the result of a 3-day conference on cyber-crime related topics, which was held at Europol headquarters in The Hague during the first week of December 2009. This annual conference yielded a lot of interest from High Tech Crime investigators from European […]
New fingerprinting technique could crack cold cases
By Melissa Gray It was early one Sunday morning when the killer rang at a front door that was decorated with a wreath for Christmas. When his victim answered, he fired four fatal shots, ran off and disappeared. Police hope the new fingerprinting technique could detectives find new clues on murder weapons. The unsolved murder […]
Madrid set to boost EU counter-terrorism activities
VALENTINA POP The Spanish EU presidency plans to set up a special unit aimed at sharing counter-terrorism intelligence among member states, according to Spanish media. [euobserver.com] El Pais reports that the new body will facilitate the direct exchange of intelligence between two or several member states in close co-operation with the existing special counter-terrorism co-ordinator, […]
Smart CCTV learns to spot suspicious types
WHAT’S the difference between a suicide bomber and a cleaner? It sounds like the opening line of a sick joke, but for computer scientists working on intelligent video-surveillance software, being able to make that distinction is a key goal. [newscientist.com] Current CCTV systems can collect masses of data, but little of it is used, says […]
Europol And Interpol Agree To Enhance Cooperation For The Benefit Of Their Member States
The Secretary General of INTERPOL, Ronald K. Noble, visited Europol today to discuss the enhanced cooperation between the two organisations. [voxy.co.nz] The meeting focused on the development of new ideas for future joint actions which will make use of the complementary strengths of both organisations. Both organisations are ideally placed to join forces for a […]
Daytona: Police delve into data to get handle on crime
By LYDA LONGA HOLLY HILL — By studying the past, police are predicting the future and putting a dent in crime. [news-journalonline.com]Since September, investigators have been poring over property crime reports in the city since 2003. Property crimes are the bulk of incidents handled by Holly Hill officers and other law enforcement in this area. […]
Armenian Riot Police To Get U.S. Training
U.S instructors will soon launch a training course for Armenian riot police on new and less heavy-handed methods of crowd control practiced in the West, a U.S. official said on Tuesday. [azatutyun.am] “At the request of the Armenian government, we are soon going to be sponsoring some training in public order management, which is crowd […]
Plod to retain personal data from DNA innocents
Police will continue to retain the personal details of everyone they arrest, despite a human rights ruling meaning the DNA profiles they are linked to must be deleted. [theregister.co.uk] The European Court of Human Rights said last year that DNA data should not be indefinitely retained from those who have not been charged or convicted. […]
Euro ‚Diktats’ risk terrorist response across Southern Europe
It is becoming dangerous to associate with economic and ideological power in Southern Europe, or what Europol calls the "Mediterranean triangle" of anarchist violence. By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard [telegraph.co.uk] Greece’s Revolutionary Struggle detonated a car bomb at the Athens Stock Exchange in September. Citigroup’s branches have been targeted twice this year. Hooded extremists attacked the rector […]
California police test out head-mounted cameras
Patrol officers to record every interaction with public amid claims department using force too often during arrests [guardian.co.uk] Police in California are testing head-mounted cameras to record interactions with the public. The test, involving 18 patrol officers, comes as citizens‘ groups criticise the department for too often using force during arrests. Officers will turn on […]
Europe Plans Spies in the Skies
By David Cronin Warplanes similar to those used to bomb civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan will be flying in Europe’s skies within the next few years, under a scheme being prepared by Brussels officials. [ipsnews.net] Pilotless drones – or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – are regarded as so lethal when armed that some top military […]
Manual on cross-border operations
Delegations will find attached the Manual on cross-border operations as agreed by the Police Cooperation Working Party. Content of the manual The Manual contains information on the different types of cross-border operations that are possible between law enforcement authorities of the Member States, based on different legal instruments Schengen Convention, Prüm Decisions and other). Where […]
I’m sorry but we blew up your laptop (welcome to Israel)
[lilysussman.wordpress.com] I was sitting on the deck overlooking the Red Sea. Israeli security officers (most who looked around 18 years old) had completed around two hours of questioning and searching me. They had pressed every sock and scarf with a security device, ripped open soap and had me strip extra layers. They asked me tons of questions–where […]
Sweden revives EU homeland security plans
The Swedish EU Presidency’s proposals for a new justice and home affairs agenda, adopted by European heads of state and government at their meeting in Brussels last week (10-11 December), should lead to much-needed action in areas such as immigration and asylum, experts told EurActiv. [euractiv.com] The final draft external of the programme was described […]
The ITRE Committee the European Parliament publishes a study on the GMES initiative
The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament has published a study entitled "The EU programme for Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES): governance and financing". [gmes.info] This study introduces the GMES initiative and its components. It draws lessons learned from a comparison with the Galileo Programme. The governance and […]
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Market Blazes Ahead Due to Ongoing War Operations, Finds Frost & Sullivan
Defense companies that wish to claim a stake in the intensely competitive unmanned aircraft system (UAS) market will find the task challenging. Mature technologies, coupled with increasing consolidation, are making the UAS market a difficult space to enter. [prnewswire.com] These challenges are not likely to hold back the market, especially with the Department of Defense’s […]
EU police and justice evolution with Lisbon Treaty
[euronews.net] There are sensitive policy areas over which many EU member states are loath to cede individual sovereignty, notably police and justice. Yet the Treaty of Lisbon aims to make the decision process smoother and more democratic by replacing unanimity voting on common policy with majority voting, and involving the European Parliament. Cooperative structures already […]
ESRI (UK) Launches New Version of CrimeAnalyst
ESRI (UK) today launches the latest version of CrimeAnalyst, a complete Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis software package for policing and crime prevention. Developed with direct feedback from users, CrimeAnalyst 2.0 enables analysts to manage the increasing demands placed upon them by automating routine tasks and providing new powerful tools that allow them to conduct […]
Spanish EU Presidency ‚to set precedents‘
Spain unveiled on Tuesday (8 December) its priorities for its six-month stint at the EU’s helm during the first half of 2010. Spain will be the first country to take the rotating presidency since the nomination of a permanent EU president and a High Representative for Foreign Affairs. [euractiv.com] "Spain will create precedents," said Diego […]
‚Fake fingerprint‘ Chinese woman fools Japan controls
A Chinese woman managed to enter Japan illegally by having plastic surgery to alter her fingerprints, thus fooling immigration controls, police claim. [bbc.co.uk] Lin Rong, 27, had previously been deported from Japan for overstaying her visa. She was only discovered when she was arrested on separate charges. Tokyo police said she had paid $15,000 (£9,000) […]