A new scenario for CEPOL's training course on Joint Investigation Teams

The French National Police College (ENSP) organised from 15 to 19 June 2015 CEPOL’s course 41/2015 “Joint Investigation Team (JIT) leadership”. 47 participants, including magistrates and police officers, gathered at ENSP’s premises in Lyon (France) to learn about the different steps of a joint investigation. During the workshops, participants learned how to prepare a file, explored the dynamics of Coordination meetings, learned how to draft a JIT agreement or integrate a third State into a Joint Investigation Team.

An episode of child online pornography involving citizens from the EU and other countries was utilised as a case study, to illustrate how new scenarios in this heinous criminal activity now require a diversified approach to integrate specialised investigative officers. The training activity also aimed at addressing the main priorities of the EU Internal Security Strategy.

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As in real investigations, participants practised in small groups how to react to unforeseen events, exchanged information between teams of judicial and police officers and coordinated respective actions. They also learned to prepare legal responses based on European judicial and law enforcement legal instruments such as the European Arrest Warrant, a confiscation order and the freezing of criminal assets. Students were guided by trainers from EUROJUST, EUROPOL and the EU JITs experts’ network. The experts conducted a vivid simulation of an operation to dismantle a criminal ring.

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Participants’ positive feedback proves the success of a training model that is widely used in similar activities in Southern Europe. “This course was exceptionally well delivered”, “Workshops are the best way to learn – when you have to act fast, practical knowledge can help much more than theory”, “Not only the content of the course was perfect but also the frame”, stated some of the participants.

The next CEPOL/EJTN course on JITs will focus on cybercrime by following the same training model. The course will take place from 5 to 8 October in Tampere (Finland).