The project during its lifetime made solid progress for the establishment of a Pan-European network of LEA practitioners. I-LEAD had the capability to reach out the “real” practitioners in law enforcement and bring them together to discuss pre-defined topics in a methodological way, with the subject areas based within the realms of their day-to-day work.
I-LEAD organized 25 Practitioners’ Workshops and brought together 369 Practitioners in five thematic areas (Front Line Policing, Cross Border, Cybercrime, Crime, and Forensics) from 27 EU countries (Belgium, France, Finland, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Malta, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland).
The main exploitable outcomes can be summarised below in the flowing areas:
Coordination and consortium building
The project team ensured a sustainable corporation between the partners which resulted in the successful submission of various proposals, ending up in 3 ISF projects as well as 1 new GM21 project.
• successful ISF proposals; ProTect, QROC, Lion-DC
• Succesful GM 21 proposal; Cyclopes
• 4 additional proposals were submitted exploiting i-LEAD outcomes
Methodology “borrowed with Pride”
The methodology became the standard approach in the ENLETS technology interest groups, therefore used across all EU partners in ENLETS (27 Ms plus 3 affiliated).
Workshops’ outcomes
The practitioner’s session on Public Order was very successful. Based on the desires of the members in this session a new pan European group in ENLETS was established, led by the Polish Police (ENLETS Confirms Public Order TIG).
Procurement and Standards
i-LEAD’s delivered an in-depth knowledge on various procurement and standardisation processes. This knowledge was handed over to the GM21 H2020 project i-ProcureNet as well as the ENLETS procurement Technology Interest Group. At date a renewed vision on procurement for ENLETS members was agreed in which the outcome of WP 4 is integrated. This achievement is closely connected with the activities of the Front Office.
Permanent Information Sharing Platform (PISP)
The i-LEAD project scanned for a suitable solution to store, disseminate the project information and to build a pan EU network. After a benchmark the Stashcat application became the standard for the knowledge sharing in and outside the project. The experiences with the i-LEAD Stashcat have been transformed in a new version, taken in, used and branded by the ENLETS network. This ENLETS Messenger was included in the Council Recommendations on operational police cooperation, advising MS to use and test it.
After being briefed by i-LEAD, Europol is setting up test with the Stashcat software as a potential standard for Europol’s communication.
The ENLETS technology Interest Group on “Digital workspace” will continue to further improve the capabilities enabling a universal workspace for emergency services. This work was shared with all MS representatives in the Law Enforcement Working Party and new potential user groups are being constantly targeted.
Industry and Research Days
Based upon the practitioners’ needs and the technology and research scans, the consortium delivered various Industry and Research days. These face to face as well as Virtual meetings became very successful and recognised by other networks ending up in the decision that this same concept will be a joint initiative of various stakeholders.
i-LEAD project organized and participated into a series of national and international events such as conferences, exhibitions, workshops and EU high level meetings. The organization of i-LEAD Industry Days” attract the attention and the participation of numerous experts and organizations, SMEs, researchers throughout Europe.
I-LEAD also participated in a of CERIS workshops providing feedback of the project findings.
Finally, within the framework of the “i-LEAD Final Conference” in Athens, Greece between 15-16 February 2023 with the participation of 120 attendants consisting of Law Enforcement Agencies’ Officers from all European Union Member States and i-LEAD Consortium partners, the so-called “Acropolis Statement” was signed.
