The annual Stockholm Criminology Symposium, organised by the Swedish National Council of Crime Prevention on behalf of the Swedish Government, took place on 14-16 June 2010 and attracted more than 500 participants from over 30 countries.
The primary purpose of the Symposium is to create an environment where international criminologists, policy makers, practitioners and others engaged in criminal policy matters can partake of the latest research findings of importance for crime policy.
The main topic for the 2010 symposium was 'Improving Policing'.
Among other well-known institutions, CEPOL was offered the opportunity to organise dedicated panel sessions. The aim was to present research projects affiliated with or facilitated by CEPOL to a wider international expert audience.
Two sessions were scheduled for the morning of the second day of the Symposium, chaired by Dr. Detlef Nogala. Under the title 'Working on a European approach to police science' Prof. Rob Mawby (United Kingdom) presented the work and resulting report of the CEPOL Project Group.
Marianne Hilton (National Swedish Police Board) presented the outline of a EU funded project featuring 'Comparative field studies in policing public order in Europe', which goes back to the first Research Symposium CEPOL organised in 2009. CEPOL is an associated partner in this project, providing a 'projectspace' on its e-Net platform.
Harry Peeters from the Police Academy of the Netherlands introduced CEPOL's Survey on European Police Education and Bologna (SEPEB) and outlined some of the preliminary results.
In the second session Prof. Tore Bjørgo from the Police University College in Norway reported about his project 'Recruitment, education and careers in the police - a European longitudinal and comparative study', which has been inspired by his earlier membership in CEPOL's Project Group on a European Approach to Police Science.
Prof. Johannes Knutsson, a current member of the CEPOL Research and Science Working Group, presented outcomes of his research project on 'Police use of firearms - an international comparison”.
The session was rounded up by a presentation of CEPOL's Research and Science activities by Dr. Detlef Nogala, highlighting the importance of scientific research as resource for higher police training and education in Europe. All the presenters underlined the benefits of comparative research and invited participants to join and broaden the European coverage of the projects.
Each of the sessions were attended by around 30 participants and triggered a lot of new contacts.
By organising two sessions with a number of high quality and interesting project presentations, CEPOL put its name forward as serious facilitator of relevant scientific research in the area of policing and police education.
More information about the Symposium and a download for programme and abstracts is available here: http://www.criminologyprize.com/extra/pod/?module_instance=2
