The day started with an introduction and overview of end user requirements for the INSPEC2T system, provided by project coordinator, Dr. George Leventakis from the Center for Security Studies – KEMEA, Ministry of Citizen Protection, Greece. Thereafter, project partners presented the components of the INSPEC2T system and provided mockups of the solution and application to the assembled stakeholders and experts. The first day of the workshop concluded with a useful discussion and evaluation of the INSPEC2T solution prototype.
Having spent the first day of the workshop assessing the INSPEC2T rapid prototypes and early testing, the focus of the second day shifted to presentations by various practitioners and experts in the field of community policing on the use of social media and technology in enhancing policing activities. Project partner Lancashire Constabulary provided an insight into community policing activities in Lancashire and, in particular, in Preston, which is one of the test sites for the INSPEC2T solution. The consortium was fortunate to hear presentations by representatives from the State Police of Latvia, the European Union Neighbourhood Watch Association, Jay John College of Criminal Justice, and the New York Police Department on the use of technology and social media in community policing. Many enlightening discussions followed these presentations, and it was agreed that the proposed INSPEC2T solution has much to offer in terms of enhancing next generation community policing actions.
The workshop was attended by representatives from several European police forces, including the the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Hellenic Police, Cyprus Police, the National Police of the Netherlands, the Local Police of the Netherlands and the State Police of Latvia. Notable attendees included the Police President of Mannheim Police, the Chief of Citizen Protection and Judicial Police of the Municipal Guard of San Sebastian, and a member of the Permanent Staff of the President of the Berlin Police. The value of the workshop was greatly enhanced by the perspectives offered by such a broad group of experts and stakeholders.
In furtherance of the INSPEC2T project’s aim to enhance collaboration and synergies with other relevant projects, representatives from the CityCOP project, the UNITY project and the TRILLION project attended the workshop and presented their work to the consortium at the plenary meeting, which was held following the SAG/EEG workshop. These three projects are funded alongside INSPEC2T under the same call: FCT–14–2014: Enhancing cooperation between law enforcement agencies and citizens – Community policing.
The next planned event for INSPEC2T is the third Stakeholders Advisory Group & External Experts Group Workshop, which will take place in Cyprus in June 2017, following completion of the first test cases of the INSPEC2T system.
