The 2012 European Police Exchange Programme has been launched by the CEPOL, the European Police College. CEPOL will offer one-to-one exchanges to police officers and scientific and research experts, teaching staff and educational programme developers, and commanders. Exchanges are organised according to 16 topics, which have been identified as important to the safety and security of European citizens.

CEPOL, the European Police College, launches its 2012 European Police Exchange Programme. Exchanges are organised according to 16 topics, which have been identified as important to the safety and security of European citizens. In 2012, four new topics will be included: illegal immigration, container shipments, mobile organised crime groups and the network for fugitive active search teams. A group exchange will be organised on the topic of trafficking in human beings. In October 2011, the Budgetary Control Committee granted the budget discharge to the CEPOL.

This programme offers exchanges to police officers and scientific and research experts, teaching staff and educational programme developers, and commanders. There will also be group study visits to the European Union agencies that deal with justice and home affairs, including Europol and Frontex.

These exchanges are open to participants who have a minimum of three years’ work experience in the field of interest and must speak at least one foreign language. Further, participants must commit to cascading their newly gained knowledge to colleagues at a national and European level. In 2011, almost 300 people, from 26 EU countries took part in the exchange programme – the highest number of participants ever in a single year and a significant increase from 2010.