Making Europe safer with tools to fight crime and terrorism Organised crime and terrorist networks are a major challenge for the EU, with many people involved in combatting them. The TAKEDOWN project developed shared solutions for better mitigation and response strategies, which also deepen understanding about the phenomenon. Security © Dmitry Kalinovsky, Shutterstock Increasing social polarisation and marginalisation have created pockets of people, often youngsters, who feel they have been left behind. With no future prospects, criminal organisations, violent extremist groups and terrorist networks can seem to be attractive options. As well as creating a culture of fear, these trends are costly to tackle. The EU-supported TAKEDOWN Research and Innovation Action project focused particularly on organised crime and terrorism, as well as on the risks coming from the rise of new hybrid organisations which provide illicit services to both criminals and terrorists. With the research showing both widespread acceptance and simultaneous scepticism of this new phenomenon, it seems the actual threat still needs further assessment. Based on its empirical research and modelling work, the team established a set of core user requirements for the development of a digital Open Information Hub and a Professional Solution Platform, both designed to support those tackling crime, extremism and terrorism. Tools for prevention and intervention TAKEDOWN analysed the available body of scientific knowledge about crime and terrorism, as well as the relevant European and national policies. The project partners also conducted both quantitative (online survey) and qualitative research (interview, workshops and focus groups) in different countries with a variety of stakeholder groups. The result was a multidimensional model for analysing crime and terrorism cases from social, psychological and economic perspectives, while also assessing risks and likely impacts of response strategies. “Our model defines drivers and pathways for crime and terrorism and provides an intuitive visualisation of case analysis to support prevention activities and risk assessment,” say the project coordinators Florian Huber, Bernhard Jäger and Peter Leitner. The www.firstlinepractitioners.com (Open Information Hub) provides information, services and support for first-line practitioners, researchers as well as the public. The public web platform helps individuals to find the right experts, training, third-party reporting, tools and guidance. “Take the example of teachers confronted with a radicalised student, they can get the latest news on the subject and then navigate the site for supportive information and resources, including a searchable database of local networks and expert contacts, as well as knowledge about comparable cases,” says Huber. A Reporting Advisor can also guide the user through a standardised and anonymous crime reporting process which can then be sent to the relevant Law Enforcement Agency. The www.fightcrimeterrorism.com (Professional Solutions Platform) is a closed platform for registered and authorised users, providing services as well as a market place where Law Enforcement Agencies can find the latest industry solutions. The platform comes with a Security News Dashboard as well as professional advisors to help users select the best solutions. Widening the net Both platforms were validated against technical testing and stakeholder evaluations, which included scenario testing. “The technical testing identified minor issues, rectified before the platforms were released, while stakeholder feedback continues to help with content structure and organisation,” says Jäger. The project has already resulted in a dedicated edited volume, published by Routledge, as well as a set of www.takedownproject.eu (safety and security policy recommendations). As well as continuing to disseminate the research outcomes, while also maintaining and extending the platforms, in future projects the team aims to develop their model into an automated case analysis technology as a training tool for Law Enforcement Agencies. Keywords TAKEDOWN, crime, terrorism, extremism, security, safety, law enforcement
