Vol. 7 No. 1 (2025): Special Conference Edition Nr. 7 of the European Law Enforcement Research Bulletin Tackling the world of High-Risk Criminal Networks (HRCN)

The EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) is organising the Special Conference Edition nr 7 of the European Law Enforcement Research Bulletin under the title "Tackling the world of High-Risk Criminal Networks (HRCN)" of the CEPOL Research and Science Conference, held on March 2025, in Rome (Italy), in cooperation with the Economic and Financial Police School of the Italian Guardia di Finanza.

The social and economic impact of organised crime is growing, together with its influence on the legal economy and public administration; thus, raising awareness is key. Criminal networks engage in corruption to reinforce their influence in the spheres of economy and public administration, and are increasingly involved in various forms of crime, such as drug trafficking, money laundering, firearms and human trafficking, organised property crime, distinct types of fraud, and more. These criminal activities can lead to increased violence and crime rates, particularly in areas where organised crime is prevalent.

Since scientific research has been helping design the response strategies to these threats, and in order to assess how recent scientific achievements and training may contribute to the success of criminal investigations in the light of operational experience, there is a need to bring together academics, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and experts from different fields to discuss and share knowledge about the complexities, differentiations, specificities, and characteristics of High-Risk Criminal Networks (HRCN) in their diverse forms, to better act towards their prevention and repression.

This Special Edition aims to explore the scientific conversations currently looking at trends, challenges, leading practices, and opportunities to disrupt and dismantle HRCN, as an EMPACT priority. The shared knowledge can strengthen significantly the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary collaboration at political, judicial and law enforcement level against HRCN, and will help enhance the learning strategies and outcomes of relevant CEPOL training products delivered to the EU law enforcement community.

This issue presents, among others, the following topics: 

• Emerging trends in the landscape of HRCN
• Challenges and best practises on combatting HRCN, including the external dimension
• Societal Impact of High-Risk Criminal Networks
• Opportunities for multidisciplinary Collaboration to fight HRCN
• Finding mitigation measures for prevention of corruption (especially in harbours increasingly undermined by the HRCN in key positions), money laundering and financial frauds
• Raising awareness on technologies to fight HRCN
• The best way to protect witnesses
• Prevention and administrative approach