Operational training needs analysis : high-risk criminal networks

High-Risk Criminal Networks (HRCN) were identified as one of the core capability gaps for law enforcement (LE) in the European Union (EU) Strategic Training Needs Assessment (EU-STNA) for 2022-2025. In line with the training priorities defined in the EU-STNA process, the main training topics in relation to HRCN are listed below. • Structure and operation of criminal networks. • Identification of high-value targets (HVT) during investigations and addressing these • Criminal finances. • Sharing of strategic and operational data. • Common and coordinated action, close cooperation and information sharing among Member States (MS), (e.g. common legal, judicial and investigative frameworks, prevention-orientated information) and with other actors, including the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations. • Cooperation with other initiatives, projects and relevant actors. • Operational network to counter mafia-style serious and organised crime (@ON). Following up on this strategic training priority, CEPOL launched an Operational Training Needs Analysis (OTNA) on HRCN in December 2022, with a view to using the outcomes of the survey to define its training portfolio for 2024-2026. An online questionnaire resulted in 45 individual answers from different LE agencies of 23 EU Member States1 (MS), representing 88 % of the countries participating in the CEPOL regulation, and one institution, namely the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).