QL-AC-10-001-EN-D

MAKING EUROPE SAFER

EUROPOL PROFILE remain relatively stable, reflecting those of international criminal and terrorist groups. Over the years we have built up substantial experience in fighting drug trafficking, illicit immigration networks and trafficking in human beings, illicit vehicle trafficking, cyber , and forgery of money. is the European Central Office for combating counterfeiting. Raamweg 47 Europol’s main goal is to help achieve a safer PO Box 90850 Europe for the benefit of all EU citizens. 2509 LW The www.europol.europa.eu

© Europol, 2010 http://www.europol.europa.eu EUROPOL UNIQUE SERVICES Europol serves as an EU centre of expertise, expertise providing a central platform for law Europol is the agency From our position at the heart of the European enforcement experts from the European of the . Our aim is to help security architecture we offer a unique range Union countries. achieve a safer Europe by supporting the of services. Europol is a support centre for law Europol officers are always ready to travel law enforcement agencies of European enforcement operations, a hub for criminal mobile at short notice and provide support with Union Member States in their fight against information, and a centre for law enforcement office our mobile office. Our presence is also in international serious crime and . expertise. demand in the fight against illicit drugs and we have a fully operational team to help More than 620 staff at Europol headquarters in Analysis is at the core of our activities. 620 100 dismantle synthetic drugs laboratories on The Hague, the Netherlands, work closely with staff analysts Europol employs more than 100 criminal the spot. law enforcement agencies in the 27 European analysts who are among the best trained in Union Member States and in other non-EU Europe. This gives Europol one of the largest partner states such as , , the concentrations of analytical capability in the STATE-OF-THE-ART USA and . EU. Our analysts use state-of-the-art tools TECHNOLOGY which support Member States’ investigations As Europol officers have no direct powers of on a daily basis. International crime and terrorist groups arrest, we support law enforcement colleagues innovative operate worldwide and make use of the by gathering, analysing and disseminating To give our partners a deeper insight into latest technology. To ensure an effective information and coordinating operations. the criminal problems they are dealing with, and coordinated response, Europol needs to Our partners use the input to prevent, detect Europol produces regular assessments which be equally flexible and innovative, and make and investigate offences, and to track down offer comprehensive and forward-looking sure its methods and tools are up to date. and prosecute those who commit them. analyses of crime and terrorism in the We have state-of-the-art databases and Europol experts and analysts take part in Joint European Union. The European Organised communication channels, offering fast and Investigation Teams which help solve criminal Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA) identifies secure capabilities for storing, searching, cases on the spot in EU countries. and assesses emerging threats. The OCTA visualising and linking information. describes the structure of organised crime Europol personnel come from different kinds groups and the way they operate, and Gathering, analysing and disseminating this of law enforcement agencies, including regular the main types of crime affecting the European information entails the exchange of large police, border police, customs and security Union. The EU Terrorism Situation and Trend quantities of personal data. Europol sets and services. This multi-agency approach helps to Report (TE-SAT), published annually, gives adheres to the highest standards of data close information gaps and minimise the space a detailed account of the state of terrorism in protection and data security. in which criminals can operate. the EU. AREAS OF EXPERTISE Some 130 Europol Liaison Officers are based Europol is a high-security operational 130 10,000 ELOs at Europol headquarters. These ELOs are cases centre. We deal with more than 10,000 cases Since Europol can offer a flexible response, seconded to Europol by the EU Member States a year, turning high-quality analysis into we focus on different areas of criminal and our non-EU partners. They guarantee fast operational successes. This flexible service and terrorist activity from year to year, and effective cooperation based on personal 24/7 centre operates non-stop: 24 hours a day, depending on the demands of the situation. contact and mutual trust. 7 days a week. Our main priorities, however, tend to