Prevention of crime: European network. Initiative France and Sweden

PURPOSE: to set up a European Crime Prevention Network. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 2001/427/JHA setting up a European Crime Prevention Network. CONTENT: This decision, adopted on the basis of a Franco-Swedish initiative, seeks to create a European crime prevention network in order to support actions undertaken by Member States in this area, both at the national and local level. This network is composed of contact points in each Member State (a maximum of three per Member State). These contact points shall include at least one representative from the national authorities competent for crime prevention in its many aspects. They shall also include researchers or academics as well as other actors in crime prevention such as NGOs, local authorities and the private secotr. EUROPOL and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs (EMCDDA) are associated with the work in matters with which they are concerned. The Network shall contribute to developing the various aspects of crime prevention at Union level and shall support crime prevention activities at local and national level. Although covering all types of criminality, the Network shall pay particular attention to the fields of juvenile, urban and drug-related crime. In particular, the Network shall: - facilitate cooperation, contacts and exchanges of information and experience between Member States and between national organisations, as well as between Member States and the Commission, other constituent entities of the Council and other groups of experts and networks specialising in crime prevention matters; - collect and analyse information on existing prevention activities, the evaluation thereof and the analysis of best practices and collect and analyse existing data on criminality and on its development in the Member States: - contribute to identifying and developing the main areas for research, training and evaluation in the crime prevention field; - organise conferences, seminars, meetings and other activities designed to promote consideration of these specific matters and to disseminate the results thereof; - organise activities that stimulate and improve the exchange of experiences and best practices; - develop cooperation with applicant countries, third countries and international organisations and bodies; - provide its expertise to the Council and to the Commission, where necessary and upon request, with a view to assisting them in all matters concerning crime prevention; - report to the Council on its activities each year, through competent working bodies and indicate the areas for priority action in its work programme for the following year. Other activities envisaged include research and training, organising seminars and meetings as well as the strengthening of cooperation with the candidate countries, third countries and relevant international organisations. To achieve these objectives, the network will favour a multidisciplinary approach and will take into account the impact of urban policies on crime prevention. It shall be in close contact with actors on the ground in the Member States and will benefit from projects relative to crime preventionfinanced by the Union. An internet website on the activities of the Network and the best practices in Member States in relation to crime prevention, shall also be set up. The Network shall hold its first meeting on 28 August 2001. It shall meet at least once every six months on the invitation of the Presidency of the Council at that time. These meetings shall decide on the Network's annual programme including a financial plan, the priority fields to be examined, the main specific actions to be carried out and the structure of the web site. The decisions of the Network shall be adopted by unanimity and the activities of the network will be evaluated in the three years following its creation. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 28/05/2001.�