The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Law Enforcement Practice

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent crisis continues to have a significant and potentially long-lasting impact on our every day lives, on the serious and organised crime landscape in Europe and on law enforcement practice. The consequences of the crisis on law enforcement work have been strongly felt and have been manifold.
Police authorities had to adapt by stepping up coordination efforts; they had to refocus their work on priority areas such maintaining public order, overseeing border control and compliance with lockdown measures. Certain crime areas that have been particularly pronounced in the crisis context have been also set as key priorities for some national law enforcement authorities.
New, specific working measures had to be designed to ensure the safety and protection of law enforcement staff carrying out their duties on the ground. In parallel, law enforcement authorities had to devise contingency plans to address the reduction in the work force stemming from COVID-19 infections. The COVID-19 crisis has also prompted the reassessment of law enforcement cross-border cooperation practices and the need to identify suitable solutions for operational secure remote communication.