EuroCOP: issue summary for Commissioner Johansson (July 2020)
Anti-racism protests
- Some police forces across Europe and globally have faced significant criticism in relation to the treatment of ethnic minorities, particularly in light of the recent anti- racism
- EuroCOP agrees with the recent European Parliament resolution that the use of force by law enforcement authorities should always be lawful, proportionate, necessary and used as a last
- Up to now every police force has internal proceedings to prevent bad Renewing the European Code of Police Ethics (2001) could be an opportunity to look for a European common approach to this matter (duties/rights).
Covid-19
- The Covid-19 pandemic has required police forces across Europe to adapt quickly to new ways of working and to enforce rapidly changing lockdown
- Police officers working during the Covid-19 pandemic should be considered as at risk to an occupational disease and have the same health protection as other
- The security threats facing European countries are ever changing: the Commission should work with EuroCOP to establish what those working in law enforcement need to make sure they are prepared to respond to these
Internal Security
- To prevent, prosecute and respond to terrorism all police officers should be equipped with adequate and effective tactical and personal protective equipment to enable effective responses to terrorist incidents. The police cannot protect the public if they themselves are not To ensure that we deny terrorists the means and space to plan, finance and carry out attacks it is necessary to focus on enforcing and implementing legislation and assess whether there are gaps.
- EuroCOP is the leading voice for European police It can offer real-time insight into how Europe’s forces are managing security threats, crises and the day-to-day reality of policing. EuroCOP can provide the Commission with valuable feedback on how EU rules work in practice and affect police officers on the ground. EuroCOP is a direct line to show the EU institutions what police officers really need.
- It is necessary that proposals to update Europol’s mandate and to introduce new rules around a Security Union provide for adequate training, resources, and access to data in order that Europe’s police officers can work effectively. To ensure that the architecture of law enforcement cooperation is fit to deal with new and emerging threats. In this respect, you should look at Europol’s mandate.
Resources, equipment and training
- It is necessary that proposals to update Europol’s mandate and to introduce new rules around a Security Union provide for adequate training, resources, and access to data in order that Europe’s police officers can work
- All European police officers should receive practical and theory training and resources to deal with
- Police training for terror incidents needs to be more than for elite officers – regular officers are inevitably the first to respond to such
- Training needs to be adaptive to current threats. For too long many police agencies concentrated on marauding shooter terror events (following the Mumbai attacks) and continued to develop response capacity on this – while the attacks in Europe increasingly became less sophisticated (vehicle and knife attacks) necessitating different
- Training needs to be more than just for “after the event” and needs to help officersidentify risks and threats before they materialise into actions.
- Training should be coordinated by the European Police College (CEPOL) to ensure standardised training is designed and delivered in all police CEPOL should have its capacity developed in respect of this and help it develop beyond a primarily “on- line” service.
Access to data
- To ensure that the architecture of law enforcement cooperation is fit to deal with new and emerging In this respect, it is necessary to look at Europol’s mandate and take into account that:
- The free flow of information and intelligence between all European police forces, InterPol and EuroPol is essential. If investment in technology is required to facilitate this, it must be made without
- Information received by national police forces is not readily accessible by “officers on the ground”.
- This is compounded in nations where autonomous or semi-autonomous police forces/services exist within member states (as they are rarely the lead agency on National Security). Examples where this is an issue include Spain, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Belgium.
- Delays in information sharing and access can have fatal
- The reluctance to get involved in the reserved powers of member states is understood but this does not address the
Migration and Asylum
- The refugee issue is something that has and will continue to be an issue heavily used in national politics. Police officers are being put into the difficult position of acting as the government’s hand in battling any potential refugee crises and suffer the political fallout of such actions as
- Police Officers have not been trained to deal with the complex issues created by the refugee/migration crisis and some of our police forces are simply overwhelmed by the volume of people coming to our
EuroCOP activity at national level
- EuroCOP takes an active role in national issues. For example, EuroCOP is actively engaging with national unions on the need to review and revise the current police disciplinary processes of the Spanish Police and Civil
- A recent report from the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), recommends:
- reviewing the disciplinary regime of the Police and the Civil Guard, with a view to strengthening its transparency, objectivity and proportionality, among other things and in particular, by excluding any possibility of a supervisor deciding on discipline matters single-handedly.
EuroCOP view on Brexit
- EuroCOP support the preparations that are currently being undertaken by both the EU institutions and the UK as they work to establish new working
- It is of vital importance to the Police Service across the European landscape, that the process of Brexit does not allow the criminal fraternity to take advantage of the operational challenges that face the Police Service during this period of time and beyond.
- EuroCOP, as the leading collective representative voice of Police Officers in Europe , are available to make a valued contribution to policy makers as they strive to devise a workable and credible solution that it is acceptable to all
Potential solutions in improving the image of the Police Service
- Investment in training that is maintained throughout the career cycle by way of Continued Professional Development.
- The recognition of the Police Service as a profession with clear recognised qualification routes
- Investment in leadership training and recognised qualifications