Congress Programme

Patrick Gistelinck, Police Brussels CAPITALE Ixelles

Operating within Efus, EU-POLNET is a European network dedicated to strengthening the expertise of local police forces and promoting their role in urban security at both the European and international levels. Through peer-to-peer exchanges, the network fosters the sharing of promising practices & innovative initiatives, and facilitates training and collaboration between local and regional police forces across Europe. Efus has been working on policing issues since it was founded in 1987, and has set out its position in its Manifesto. It emphasises the importance of "basing the doctrine of police action on the principles of co-production and community policing" and "organising the police on the basis of a partnership approach". It calls for institutions "to operate and be organised" in such a way as to ensure that "the expectations and needs of citizens for their day-to-day problems are given the same priority as emergencies and major crime issues". Organised as part of the PACTESUR 2 project, the Local Police Academies are bringing together more than 50 local police officers from 14 cities from all over Europe. These academies are combining theory and practical activities, focusing on real-world application and sharing operational protocols. EU-POLNET priorities: Public spaces, community policing, diversity, recruitment & retention, coordination with local services.

Sarina Freund, State Office for Criminal Investigation of Lower Saxony
Dr. Anke Schröder, State Office of Criminal Investigation of Lower Saxony

Innovations in security research are essential for the development of complex and foresighted security solutions for diverse threat situations. However, research findings show gaps between the development of security-relevant innovations and their implementation. A key approach is therefore to involve end users in security research in order to enable close collaboration between expertise, technology and research. Insufficient consideration of the actual needs and perspectives of end users can lead to a discrepancy between solution development and problem identification. These possible shortcomings can hinder the acceptance of innovations in practice instead of recognising them as helpful instruments for making everyday work easier. The EU-funded project Engage2innovate (E2i) postulates that a stronger orientation towards end users is crucial in the entire research and development process of social innovations - from needs assessment through the process to implementation and evaluation - and aims to develop practice-oriented solutions to close this gap. The presentation will outline implications for better implementation of innovative security solutions based on the current project findings.

PhD Laura Llop-Medina, University of Valencia

Crowded public spaces present critical security challenges due to high-density concentrations that complicate effective emergency response, with potentially serious consequences. These challenges, which are increasingly complex in nature, encompass the threats of terrorism, organised crime, political and economic unrest, natural disasters and high-volume gatherings. To improve the understanding of social innovations in the European security landscape, a scoping review was conducted in the framework of CO-SECUR EU project, with the aim of identifying and synthesising studies that focus on public space security and mass events security innovations developed through bottom-up approaches, public participation or targeted public engagement, as well as studies that analyse or study security perception and behaviour. Eligible studies were published in the last decade spanning peer-reviewed and grey literature within the European Union, with an expanded focus on consortium countries (Spain, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Portugal, Romania, Poland, Greece, and Lithuania) and the UK. Comparative analysis across countries reveals that while countries share common challenges in ensuring public security, their approaches to social innovation in security vary widely. Emphasising participatory processes, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration and addressing emerging security threats are key

Carina Dantas, SHINE 2Europe

Social Innovation in Security: an overview of case studies and best practices- early results from the CO-SECUR project The Horizon Europe project CO-SECUR is dedicated to improving citizens’ security perception and behaviour in public spaces, particularly at large events and crowded areas, by engaging them in co-creating innovative security solutions. One of the project’s main activities is the identification and collection of best practices and case studies of social innovation in security in 9 European countries – Spain, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Portugal, Romania, Poland, Greece, and Lithuania- and beyond. This paper presents the preliminary findings of the case study and a best practices mapping, which includes over 180 identified examples from the mentioned countries. The results offer valuable insights for developing a roadmap to enhance the perception of security in Europe by incorporating social approaches, contributing to a social development plan . Additionally, the results provide inspira

Prof Shahla Eltayeb, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences

•Violence, whether domestic, conflict-related, or community-based, can result in PTSD, depression, anxiety, and complex grief. compounded vulnerabilities: •Women in conflict zones or displacement settings face isolation, loss of social support, and heightened caregiving responsibilities. •This diversity necessitates moving away from 'one-size-fits-all' care model •Integrate trauma-informed, culturally sensitive practices into existing frameworks to improve rehabilitation outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Macarena Rau Vargas, International CPTED Association

The paper will describe the process and outcome of a longitudinal research conducted both in Honduras and Chile on impact evaluation of CPTED interventions (first, second and third generation) and situational crime prevention. This longitudinal research was led by Dr. Macarena Rau together with a team of researchers (Dr. Francisco Gatica (UBB), Dr. Tim Pascoe, Dr. Ivan Cartes (UBB)) and allowed the formulation of a CPTED Impact Evaluation Method called ESU (Urban Safety Survey). One of the innovations of this method is its participatory dimension with the intervened communities and control groups as well as the collection of both qualitative and quantitative information.

PHD candidate Stanislavs Seiko, University of Latvia

This study examines legislative changes regarding companion animal protection in Latvia, emphasizing the role of these measures in preventing animal abuse and promoting social changes. By analysing examples of abuse and the necessary changes outlined in manifests of several animal rights advocacy NGOs, the study assesses the impact of advocacy on legislative reform. It also examines police records from 2016 to 2024 concerning the classifications "Animal Abuse" and "Violations of Animal Welfare Regulations," as the local police force is the primary responder in situations of animal mistreatment. To further investigate situations of companion animal welfare violations, semi-structured interviews were performed with homeless animal help volunteers, veterinarians, and veterinary inspectors. A total of 30 semi-structured interviews shed light on various forms of mistreatment, including unlawful breeding, hoarding, and the refusal of euthanasia for suffering animals, and provide insights into underlying causes and potential preventive approaches. This study emphasizes the necessity of collaborative initiatives among legislative bodies, LEAs, and grassroots groups to prevent animal abuse. The research seeks to foster a more egalitarian and peaceful society through improved collaboration and informed policy-making, aligning with the congress's emphasis on prevention and social changes.