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.

Dr. Uwe Kemmesies, Bundeskriminalamt

The lecture examines the challenges of extremism prevention in times of resurgent collective narcissism. Its starting point is the consideration of radicalization as an expression – as a symptom rather than a cause – of disturbed social peace. Based on Galtung’s theoretical concept of positive peace, the question will be addressed as to the consciousness with which we should proceed in order to restore the social peace which appears to be disturbed in view of the radicalization of certain social (sub)groups. It will be emphasized that the prevention of violent radicalization and extremism – in line with common sense, at least among experts – must be understood as a task for society as a whole. However, mastering this task must begin with the individuals themselves, and it will only be successfully implemented if the majority of society members also recognize the desire for individual self-determination for others – including members of outgroups. Communicating this – this is the thesis of the lecture – is a basic, if not the central, prerequisite for successful extremism prevention and represents a major challenge in a society on a collective ego trip.

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

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.

Christian Kromberg, Stadt Essen
Anna Rau, Deutsch-Europäisches Forum für Urbane Sicherheit e.V.

The interests and needs of different groups collide in public spaces. Conflicts between different user groups, increasing social tensions, changes on the drug markets followed by new drug addiction patterns and decreasing tolerance of marginalised people are shaking social peace. Visibly more people live on the streets in many cities. Some of them display a very peculiar and sometimes aggressive behaviour, are severely pauperised and can hardly be reached by street workers and social services anymore. These group is representing a major challenge for society and city administrations. In view of growing social inequality and social transformation processes, the prevention of poverty, marginalisation, homelessness, addiction and mental illness is essential for maintaining social peace. At the same time, quick solutions are needed for those affected. But how can this be achieved? The lecture will present various municipal prevention approaches.

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.

Prof. Dr. Christoph Weller, Universität Augsburg

The lecture explains a scientific understanding of ‘societal peace’ („Gesellschaftlicher Frieden“) based on theories of social conflict. This concept goes beyond the traditional idea of peace and conflict research, in which peace is understood as the opposite of violence. Instead, it focuses primarily on practice-oriented questions that are becoming more pressing than ever as socio-political disputes become more radicalised and the danger of escalation in social conflicts increases. The term ‘peace’ is generally associated with greater expectations than just the absence of war. Thus, ‘societal peace’ can also be expected to protect society from the escalation of its conflicts. Because the state's monopoly on the legitimate use of force plays an important role in this, the understanding of ‘societal peace’ cannot be primarily based on the absence of violence. Instead, a way of dealing with socio-political conflicts that prevents conflict escalation is of central importance. The prevention of conflict escalation in daily social coexistence is at the centre of this conflict-theoretical consideration of ‘societal peace’.

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.

Prof. Dr. Eva Groß, Hochschule in der Akademie der Polizei Hamburg
Prof. Dr. Joachim Häfele, Institut für Kriminalitäts- u. Sicherheitsforschung (IKriS), Polizeiakademie Niedersachsen
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Kemme, Universität Münster
Prof. Dr. Sören Kliem, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena

In Germany, the number of officially registered anti-Semitic incidents has risen steadily in recent years. In particular, the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 led to a further extreme increase in the number of cases. However, the dark field in this area is likely to be much larger (e.g. Häfele & Groß 2023). In addition, the officially reported cases do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the extent to which people are affected by antisemitic acts that are not (or not yet) punishable by law. However, antisemitism is widespread in everyday social life, be it in the form of stereotypes, general devaluation of Jews and Judaism, open and subtle antisemitic prejudices or media representations (Zick et al. 2017). To date, there are hardly any findings on antisemitism in Germany from the perspective of those affected. The lecture presents results from the research project ‘Jewish Life and Everyday Life in Hamburg (LeAH)’. The main aim of the study was to survey the subjective burden of anti-Semitic criminal offences and non-punishable anti-Semitic acts and (everyday) discrimination(s) on Hamburg Jews. The data basis is a complete survey of the Jewish community in Hamburg.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Görgen, Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei
Stefanie Horn, Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei

On average, the police in Germany record at least one attempted or completed homicide involving partners or ex-partners every day. A significant proportion of these crimes occur in the context of, or following, a break-up. International studies highlight the high prevalence of stalking in the lead-up to intimate partner homicides, though they often do not distinguish between cases within ongoing relationships and those that occur post-separation. This study explores the extent, forms, and circumstances under which individuals who kill (or attempt to kill) their intimate partners after a break-up engage in prior stalking behaviour. Using a file-based analysis of post-separation homicides, the research examines the patterns of stalking leading up to these crimes, as well as the demographic, situational, and behavioural characteristics of the perpetrators.

PhD Maite Ferrando, Kveloce
Dr. Meike Hecker, Deutsch-Europäisches Forum für Urbane Sicherheit (DEFUS)

Amidst the evolving landscape of security challenges in public spaces, there is a growing need for effective and socially accepted solutions. Trust, acceptance, and heightened security behaviours are essential. With this in mind, this panel will discuss the existing evidence, including experiences, knowledge and inspirational examples, where social science (social innovation, participatory methodologies, user-centric design, etc) are applied to contribute to increase the security perception of the citizens. Learnings from different partners from the European funded CO-SECUR projects and its Advisory Board will be also discussed and shared with the audience. Moderated by Maite Ferrando PhD and Meike Hecker, several international experts on the topic will present a 2 minutes pitch on their learnings and experiences in their respective countries, namely Finland, Lithuania, Romania, Greece, Poland and Canada (TBC). After this introduction, an open debate will take place with the panelists and the audience on the relevance and impact of social approaches in security. The confirmed panelist covering the referred countries are Maria Mekri, Andrius Jaržemskis, Lucia Cristea, Dinos Nikolaidis-Konstas and Michal Woch.

Ella Bürge, sip züri
Alexandra Neumann, sip züri

What can a city like Zurich do when a popular meeting place suddenly becomes a focal point for conflict and violence? On the lakeshore, rising alcohol consumption and increasing physical violence among young people created a threatening dynamic that was further fuelled by social media. Conventional police measures such as increased presence, repression and video surveillance seemed to exacerbate the problem and only attracted more young people in search of ‘action’. The turning point came when a unique co-operation between social work, prevention and the police was launched. Through a coordinated approach and the use of outreach social work, a concept is developed that calms the situation in the long term. Each agency acts according to its own mandate, but with a common goal: to make public spaces safe and accessible for everyone. The presentation shows how Zurich has successfully responded to the escalation of violence and presents tried and tested approaches that can serve as a model for dealing with similar conflicts in public spaces.

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.

Anne-Katrin Niemeier, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

Social, economic and power inequalities, perceived injustice and polarising narratives lead to crises and violent conflicts in many countries. GIZ supports its partners in overcoming the causes of conflicts, fragility and violence, dealing with conflicts in a non-violent manner and creating structural framework conditions for peaceful and inclusive development. The lecture presents approaches to promoting social peace from various country contexts.

Prof. Luis Guillermo Flores Chávez, Ayuntamiento de Guadalupe

In this paper we show the results of the initiative “Building Peace with LEGO ®” applied in the municipality of Guadalupe through the Department of Promotion and Promotion of Values of the Municipality of Guadalupe, Zacatecas, México. Through LEGO ® brikcs, children build models with which they share stories and ideas to have conversations and reflect on the importance of building peace and living values in the school environment. Inspired by the LEGO® Serious Play® methodology, constructivism and constructionism, this program aims to offer new and fun ways to generate meaningful learning for children in the municipality of Guadalupe that transcends in their school environment.

Dr. Felix Munger, Canadian Centre for Safer Communities

This presentation provides an in-depth look at the emerging concept of community safety and well-being (CSWB), a uniquely comprehensive approach to urban safety and crime prevention planning in Canada. The presentation will cover the history and importance of CSWB in Canada, the planning process, real-world examples, and the tools and resources available for effective planning and implementation. The goal is to educate and inspire attendees to engage in collaborative efforts to enhance local safety and well-being through evidence-informed approaches, social determinants of justice, and proactive measures.

Kjell Elefalk, Trygghet och Management AB

The Local Safety Measurement System was introduced in The Swedish Police in the late 1990s. By 2024, more than 1.4 million respondents have responded to police surveys since 1998 in most of the Swedish Local Governments. 2000 municipalities, divided into 5000 geographical parts, have been surveyed on each occasion over the years. The Police have conducted most of the studies. Data has been collected with the same questions, sequencing, and data collection methods, with the only changes being a few of new questions, which, are always placed last in the survey. The respondents' responses are simply intelligence of problems obtained by the best experts – the individuals who spend daily time in their neighbourhoods. The results were compared nationally via percentages to obtain a relative assessment of severity. In 2025, the Swedish Police decided to extend the survey to all 290 municipalities in Sweden to become a tactical tool for problem mapping and follow-up of the effects of the police's and the municipality's work against the biggest problems in a given geographical area. In Sweden, the Local Governments in 2025 have a statutory responsibility for crime prevention and are the main cooperation partner to the local police. This is a unique story about analysis using algorithms, The Clopper Pearson interval, confidence interval, forecasting science, and police experience.

Dr. Joongwook Park, Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice (KICJ)
Dr. Jee-Young Yun, Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice (KICJ)

Bernhard Schafrath, Bundeskriminalamt Österreich

The platform against phishing is a public-private partnership between the Federal Criminal Police Office, PSA Payment Services Austria, Austrian banks, telecommunications operators, supervisory authorities and other public organisations. Together, they are working on solutions to counteract the phenomenon of phishing. The organisations meet regularly to exchange information and have 3 specific working groups with the following objectives: 1. joint awareness-raising, 2. technical solutions to prevent phishing attacks and 3. decisions for recommendations for decision-makers. The #10DaysAgainstPhishing took place for the first time in 2024. Over the 10 days, more than 25 organisations provided information about the dangers of phishing and how to protect yourself from them. The media response was huge and the feedback was very good. By joining forces with telecommunications operators, it will also be possible in the near future to filter out and not deliver text messages with fraudulent content.

Klaus Engelmohr, AugsburgerInnen gegen Menschenhandel e.V.
Kerstin Neuhaus, AugsburgerInnen gegen Menschenhandel e.V.

Wie können Vereine und Kommunen präventiv gegen Menschenhandel zur sexuellen Ausbeutung vorgehen? Welche Zielgruppen sind zu beachten, wie sind die gesetzlichen Rahmenbedigungen und was sind Push- und Pullfaktoren für Menschenhandel zur sexuellen Ausbeutung? Diese Fragen werden anhand der Arbeit des Vereins AugsburgerInnen gegen Menschenhandel e.V. behandelt.

Dr. Jisun Choi, Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice (KICJ)
Dr. Seong-Hoon Park, Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice (KICJ)
Dr. Seungbeom Sim, Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice (KICJ)

Marion Denny, Generalstaatsanwaltschaft Frankfurt am Main -

Hate on the internet contributes to a brutalisation of interaction in the digital space. The impact on those affected is grave. Not only since the murder oft he German politician Walter Lübcke we have learned that words can become deeds. Effective criminal prosecution is important to emphasise the inappropriateness of criminal hate online. In Hesse, the ‘Hesse against hate speech’ reporting platform provides an easy way to report hate speech and extremist content. Those affected are provided with individualised support services if required. Relevant notificatons are forwarded to the Cybercrime Center of the Public Prosecutor General´s Office (ZIT) for the review of criminal liability. In criminal proceedings, the confrontation with the alleged offence often brings the defendant to critically reflect on his or her own behaviour for the first time. This is why we need – in addition to conventional criminal sanctions -, means to show perpetrators an active way out of the spiral of violence and agitation and thus to develop behavioural strategies to a non-violent communication in the future. The digital social training course run by the non-profit organisation STOP HATE in cooperation with ZIT may serve as an example. The participation in this course can be imposed as a condition for the discontinuation of criminal proceedings and is if successful a preventive victim protection.

PhD 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. This paper seeks to contribute to both the practice and concepts of evidence-based CPTED and exchange both research and practice information with colleagues from Germany and Europe among other international guests.

Prof. Shahla Eltayeb, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences

This lecture explores the intersection of trauma, mental health, focusing on supporting women victims. While gender-sensitive approaches have gained prominence in recent years, these initiatives often overlook socio-cultural and ethnic diversity, assuming that women victim's needs are universal. This lecture advocates for a holistic strategy that addresses the specific needs of female victims, offering mental health care tailored to their distinct ethnocultural backgrounds while enhancing victim protection and rehabilitation. Drawing on case studies from Afro-Arab communities (Sudan) and multi-ethnic contexts, the lecture will emphasize culturally sensitive, trauma-informed mental health interventions aimed at improving resilience among women in varied settings. These case studies will provide practical insights into policy changes that can improve community-based mental health programs, offer useful perspectives for policymakers on reshaping crime prevention.

Ellen Meissner, Landeskriminalamt Baden-Württemberg

In the greater Stuttgart area, and thus in the jurisdiction of several regional police headquarters (Aalen, Ludwigsburg, Reutlingen, Stuttgart and Ulm), there have been repeated violent confrontations, including attempted homicides, on an unprecedented scale since 2022, which are essentially attributable to two rival groups. So-called live firearms and hand grenades have also been used. The conflict has considerably disturbed the peace under the law significantly disrupted public order and has had a lasting impact on citizens' sense of security. In a concerted response under the leadership of the BW State Criminal Police Office, the BW police set up a special organisational structure with a focus on countering the rival groups with criminal prosecution measures, but also with measures under police law. In addition, the classic police and judicial countermeasures were conceptually supplemented by preventive activities in 2024. In a presentation, the initial situation, a description of the problem with an analysis of the causes and the measures that have been taken to date and are constantly being further developed will be presented. The presentation will cover the initial situation, a problem description with cause analysis, and the measures taken so far, which are continuously being developed.