ActivityOnline Course 2006/2025: Investigation of online Child Sexual Exploitation – basic
The aim of this online course is to equip law enforcement officials with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively combat child sexual exploitation..
Upon completion of this training activity, participants will be able to:
- Define key concepts and terminology related to child sexual exploitation (CSE), including legal definitions used across EU member states and relevant European instruments (e.g. Directive 2011/93/EU).
- Describe the roles of Europol, Eurojust, CEPOL, and other EU bodies in facilitating collaboration and operational support to combat CSE.
- Explain common offender methods and victim vulnerabilities in online and offline contexts, with emphasis on beavioural patterns.
- Apply investigative techniques and tools for victim identification, including digital forensics, OSINT.
- Identify and assess undercover investigative approaches that can effectively support child sexual exploitation cases.
- Analyse offender communications and content-sharing methods to support investigative planning and threat assessment.
- Evaluate the reliability and operational usefulness of tools in identifying abusive content, automating case triage, and assisting victim recognition.
- Recognise the psychological impact that investigating child sexual exploitation can have on law enforcement professionals and identify effective coping strategies to support mental health and resilience.
- Recognise and recommend partnerships with relevant stakeholders and partners in the field of combating CSE.
The course will be held entirely in English, therefore it is essential that nominated officials possess appropriate language skills (at least B2 level). The entire activity will be carried out online hence the physical presence of participants will not be required.
However, the course will include scheduled live online sessions, for which the participants presence is mandatory (6 – 10 October 2025, every day from 9:30 to 13:00 CEST). In addition to the live sessions, the participants are expected to dedicate time to read through compulsory pre-course study material before the training to fully benefit from the activity.
Nomination:
In case you are interested to attend, please contact your local CEPOL National Unit / CEPOL National Contact Point as soon as possible. Deadline for nominations by CEPOL National Units: 24 September 2025.
Selected participants have to be registered to CEPOL's Law Enforcement Education platform LEEd where the online activity will take the place.
EMPACT training activity
Combating new forms of organised crime requires more cooperation between police and gendarmes, customs officers, border guards, judges, and prosecutors. EU institutions, agencies and Member States work together to tackle organised and serious international crime through a permanent and key instrument: the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT).
CEPOL plays a crucial role in the EMPACT mechanism through the provision of specialised training and the identification of training needs within each common security threat. Every year, CEPOL provides a comprehensive training package for each common EU crime priority consisting of onsite, online and exchange training activities.
Check more of CEPOL's EMPACT training activities here.
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Target audience
This beginner-level course is for law enforcement officials who are new to investigating child sexual exploitation (CSE). It’s tailored to those at the start of their careers or recently assigned to CSE-related work, providing essential knowledge and skills for their work.
