CEPOL workshop: Heads of Riot Units strengthen cooperation and exchange good practices

Recognising the importance of delivering training on public order and emergencies requiring a law enforcement response^[1], the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), organised a workshop for Heads of Riot Units from 13-15 November. The aim of this 3-day activity was to create a repository of knowledge and exchange good practices for the policing of mass crowd events and cross-border operational cooperation, while facilitating training initiatives among specialised police services of EU Member States.

The activity brought together 29 high level law enforcement officials from 17 EU Member States and Ukraine, and 9 experts/trainers from international organisations and the private sector and representatives of EU Member States, who shared their different perspectives of public order. The 29 participants had a broad experience in public order in management -level positions, being responsible for planning, tactical supervision and evaluation of large-scale public order operations securing major mass events or public assemblies and cross-border police operations.

The workshop was  dynamic, with numerous case studies and group exercises covering a variety of topics, such as intelligence-based policing, protest – crowd dynamics, crisis management and crisis communication, international police cooperation in relation to major crowd events and the latest research and technology developments in public order and safety. The protection of fundamental rights was also integrated, as a horizontal topic, in all the learning activities. During the workshop participants concluded that there is a need to establish a network of crowd control professionals with the aim to improve information sharing, foster joint training activities, support capacity building efforts, facilitate the use of new technologies and strengthen cooperation regarding cross-border major events and the sharing of standard operational procedures (SOPs).

To maximise the added-value of this workshop, CEPOL is planning the development of a paper with best practices in managing public order crises and cross- border large-scale events, which can be shared with the agency’s relevant partners. Furthermore, based on the findings of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to contribute to a special edition of the European Law Enforcement Research Bulletin dedicated to the topic of public order.

Background information

The agency’s strategy 2023-2027, adopted by the CEPOL Management Board in November 2022, mandated CEPOL to become the EU Hub for Law Enforcement Training, with a reinforced role in coordinating and supporting the cooperation with and between relevant stakeholders through networks, research and mobility programmes and higher education products among national training institutions.

CEPOL aims to enhance its cooperation with universities, academia and research institutions to keep training innovative, adaptive, predictive and as an essential toolkit in a rapidly developing environment at technological level. It also aspires to facilitate the integration of new adult learning methodologies, including a higher education flagship programme.

Within the scope of its enhanced role, this year CEPOL delivered at its premises in Budapest three newly designed activities aiming to offer a unique learning and networking opportunity for law enforcement practitioners, academics and researchers: The Workshop on Environmental Crime (22/2023/ONS) was the first to be delivered in this new activity format, followed by the  Workshop for Heads of Law Enforcement Training Institutes (90/2023/ONS) in October, and the  Workshop for Heads of Riot Units (91/2023/ONS) in November.