Athens 3 March 2023
The Center for Security Studies (KEMEA) has organized the onsite training activity Hate Crime 51/2023 in Heraklion, Greece.
The course aimed to enhance the police response to hate crime in general and online hate speech as a specific form of delinquency with special motives, as well as an identifiable social and psychological basis. 24 learners from various Member States, Iceland as well as from Europol participated in practical exercises, simulations, and workshops, and benefited from the knowledge and experience of their experts/trainers, including on topics of multi-sectoral cooperation, and on the involvement of the civil society and relevant stakeholders. The course was supported by trainers/experts from CEPOL, the Hellenic Police, the Forensic Medical Service of Crete, the Institute for the Prevention and Treatment and Promotion of Gender Equality “VIA-STOP” and the Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate (SEOCID) within the Crown Prosecution Service of the UK.
The activity took place in the hotel ibis Styles Heraklion Central hotel from the 21st to the 24th of February 2023, while a thematic workshop was hosted in the premises of the Heraklion Police Directorate to discuss the cooperation of the local authorities in dealing with hate crime cases. Further to the opportunity to exchange views with local authority representatives, the participants also visited the newly established Counter Domestic Violence Unit within the Heraklion Police Directorate.
CEPOL – the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training brings together law enforcement officials across Europe with the aim to encourage cross-border cooperation in the fight against serious and organised crime and maintenance of public security and law and order. Established as an agency of the European Union (EU) in 2006, CEPOL organises between 80-100 residential activities per year, besides the online courses and the Webinars. The implementation of the residential activities takes place at the institutions of the Member States and the activities cover a wide range of topics, with a focus on fundamental rights, covering thematics such as hate crime and hate speech prevention. For more information about CEPOL, visit www.cepol.europa.eu .
The Center for Security Studies (Kentro Meleton Asfaleias – KEMEA), founded in 2005, is a scientific, consulting and research organization overseen by the Minister of Citizen Protection, governed by common law, and annually audited by chartered accountants. Its principal purpose is to conduct theoretical and applied research and studies, particularly at the strategic level, on security topics and policies, while being the think-tank of the Ministry of Citizen Protection on numerous policies such as public order, correctional services, terrorism prevention, crime prevention, integrated border management and civil protection as well as on various other security and societal issues; it also provides advisory and consulting risk-management services to an array of public and private organizations. KEMEA is a Framework Partner of CEPOL since 2016 and has been selected by CEPOL to organise the annual Hate Crime onsite training activity for the third consecutive time.
