Seminar on European Police Forces contending with urban violence
© Europa
- from: 13.10.2008
- to: 15.10.2008
- In: Saint Cyr au Mont d'Or
Urban violence is not in itself a criminal offence. It is an umbrella term that covers a range of offences and incivilities committed by people in groups, carried out most frequently using repeated violence against all forms of authority, but also targeting individuals and private and public property.
The numerous questions from France's European partners after the riots of 2005 gave rise to an EU-wide comparative survey on urban violence. Findings showed that urban violence is not generally categorised as such, either because it is not very common (or at any rate not widespread), or because the incidents are recorded in general crime statistics.
A seminar on urban violence is being organised on 13 to 15 October 2008 by the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the outskirts of Lyon.
It provides the chance for French authorities to share experiences with their European partners. The seminar's discussions will particularly focus on French expertise in terms of legislation, specific equipment and intervention procedures which differ from traditional policing methods in urban areas.
Besides the past history and causes of urban violence, the seminar will present intervention procedures and strategies and their legal treatment. The issue of operational coordination at national and European levels will also be addressed, as will the use of new technologies and aerial surveillance.
This seminar aims to explain the facts behind urban violence and stimulate the creation of structures for coordination and exchanges within each Member State.
- Updated: 05.11.2008
