High Risk Criminal Networks – Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs course in Italy

École Universitaire Internationale organised CEPOL activity 03/2024/ONS on High-Risk Criminal Networks (HRCN) – Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs course in Pordenone (Italy) from 4 to 8 November 2024.

The course addressed trends in Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs), relevant threats at European level and the cross-border challenges law enforcement officials face in their efforts to combat this phenomenon.

During the 5-day activity participants had the opportunity to:

• Gather firsthand information from two former OMCGs members. They shared their broad experience and knowledge gained after many years on the OMCG structure, modus operandi, and evolution.
• Understand the psychological features of members, as individuals and in a group, the psychology that lies behind the OMCGs dynamics, and the multi-faceted aspects that motivate members to join and leave OMCGs.
• Learn about currently emerging and future trends of OMCGs, understand their impact on law enforcement work and appreciate the value of cross-border cooperation. This included new trends in OMCGs recruitments and operational modus operandi, how the landscape has changed and how this impacts investigations.
• Participate in a study visit to learn about criminal, investigative and intelligence analysis in detecting cross-border developments and the trafficking routes used by actually visiting the places where the trafficking occurs.

The training was interactive and participants were encouraged to share their knowledge and discuss real cases by analysing challenges and finding solutions. The participants gained a deeper understanding of the new scientific findings related to the challenges of the phenomenon in order to successfully implement investigations.

The learning environment was carefully designed, offering opportunities to create lasting networks and working relationships among experts from many different European countries, thus facilitating future cross-border cooperation.

Some course participants shared their views regarding this activity:

“It was a dynamic course. The possibility to see "in situ" the routes of OMCGs in this region was an excellent idea.”

“I wish we had even more time to listed to the experiences of the former OMCG members.”

“Excellent contribution of psychology in the study of the phenomenon.”

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