Lund University Publications

SURVEILLE Deliverable D5.7 Proposal of a training course for law enforcement

• Mark

Abstract

In recent decades, information technology has enjoyed an ever-increasing degree of influence upon society. The use of technology has proliferated, bleeding into all human activities, and now extends into the most private activities of individuals. Unfortunately the perpetrators of serious crimes have not missed the revolution. Technology has marked off many working terrains including that of serious crime prevention, investigation and prosecution, but it offers no guidance regarding its consequences outside this terrain for

individuals or society as a whole.



Training law enforcement professionals in legal and ethical issues connected to the use of technology represents an important step in guaranteeing the... (More)

In recent decades, information technology has enjoyed an ever-increasing degree of influence upon society. The use of technology has proliferated, bleeding into all human activities, and now extends into the most private activities of individuals. Unfortunately the perpetrators of serious crimes have not missed the revolution. Technology has marked off many working terrains including that of serious crime prevention, investigation and prosecution, but it offers no guidance regarding its consequences outside this terrain for

individuals or society as a whole.



Training law enforcement professionals in legal and ethical issues connected to the use of technology represents an important step in guaranteeing the lawful, reasonable and proper application of such technology, and in ensuring that informed choices about its deployment

are made. Particularly nowadays, professional training in surveillance-related aspects of law, ethics and technology is essential for the everyday work of law enforcement professionals. It

should aim to ensure a balanced approach to instrumental use of surveillance technology, which is legally permissible, ethically justifiable, effective and efficient.



The FP7 SURVEILLE Project was devised in order to properly assess surveillance technology deployed in Europe, its costs and benefits, and to identify and evaluate related legal and ethical issues. One of its key objectives is to continuously communicate the results

of research undertaken to all relevant stakeholders. To advance this objective, this training proposal was created, using as its basis the work completed within the SURVEILLE Project and the research outcomes thereof. It should primarily assist training centres and other

stakeholders responsible for continuous law enforcement training, including by integrating the outcomes of the SURVEILLE Project into their work. This objective is critical for ensuring that the relevant standards are respected during the use of surveillance technology in

Europe.



The purpose of this proposal is to outline a systematic training programme for law enforcement professionals that helps them to understand the technological, legal and ethical aspects of the use of surveillance technologies in the prevention, investigation and

prosecution of serious crime. It is important to take full account of societal concerns in the application of surveillance technology in law enforcement, and to understand how ethical and legal issues are mutually intertwined, shaped around a particular technological tool and usually all come together during one split-second decision. Law enforcement professionals must be aware of these issues not just in abstract terms, but in concrete situations. Sometimes this is a matter of prevention and non-targeted surveillance; sometimes it is

matter of case-specific investigation as targeted surveillance.



The proposal takes into account disparities between different groups of law enforcement professionals, namely: police officers; judges and prosecutors; and local authorities. Each training curriculum is tailored to the needs and the specificities of the use and application of surveillance technologies of each target group. Different groups of law enforcement professionals must interact with different concerns at different stages, but the overall outcome must be coordinated and should contribute to guaranteeing the adoption of best practices in serious crime case management. The training proposal contributes to facilitating the daily work of law enforcement professionals, and ensures that law enforcement

professionals will be well equipped to proceed with a thorough and effective analysis of all of the critical aspects of deployment of surveillance technology, and will be able to handle their working tasks in a professional manner. (Less)