German Federal Police Bundeskriminalamt: international co-operation to combat threats to the economy

German Federal Police Bundeskriminalamt: international co-operation to combat threats to the economy. Combating international terrorism is one of the most pressing tasks facing us today. As is the case with other new forms of danger, international terrorism increasingly challenges the capability of the sovereign states to act: global developments increasingly have an impact at a local level and vice versa. Additionally, the new forms of vulnerability to which modern industrial societies are exposed and the rapid spread of information and communications technology throughout the world have altered criminality, and consequently the dangers facing the economy.

Companies today continue to be the victims of traditional forms of crime such as money laundering and corruption. However, new dangers have emerged which also have the potential to cause enormous damage: offences which exploit modern information and communications technology or offences directed against this type of technology (high tech/computer crime). With regard to offences under the category “Internet as a tool of crime”, we have noted a marked trend towards the use of the Internet for the commission of economic crimes.

As a result of an increase in their activities overseas, German companies are exposed to additional risks abroad, ranging from kidnappings to terrorist attacks. The threat scenarios confronting us are clearly manifold. However, traditional and new dangers have one thing in common: the international dimension of the crimes committed.

International Police Co-operation

To an ever greater degree, security today is the product of a coordinated international approach. We must counter the challenge of criminal networks with law enforcement networks which exchange information and act in a coordinated manner. The same principle applies to private security companies insofar as they have an international framework.

With regard to international police cooperation, Germany places great emphasis on institutionalised forms of cooperation with the other EU states based on bilateral police agreements, whereby the objective here is, amongst other things, the unbureaucratic and fast exchange of information. Co-operation within the European Union is also accorded a high priority. For example, the central idea behind the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement (CAS) of 19.06.1990, “internal freedom through strict checks at the borders“, has meanwhile been systematically implemented by 24 Schengen states.

To compensate for the removal of checks at the internal borders, other measures were introduced, for example, the establishment of a joint electronic search system, the Schengen Information System SIS. The signing of the Prüm Treaty on 27.05.2007 by Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain and Germany made it possible to link the respective national DNA, fingerprint and motor-vehicle data systems.

Indeed, electronic checks of data have already led to the solving of serious offences. The European police agency Europol is also an indispensable institution thanks to the support it provides the Member States, for example, future-oriented prognostic threat assessments on terrorism and organised crime.

Another institution of immense importance is ICPO-Interpol. Interpol is not only the oldest, but with its 186 members also the largest multilateral framework for cross-border police co-operation. ICPO Interpol provides the official channels of communication for the exchange of police information worldwide and contributes significantly to the international search for persons and property. In its fight against international crime, such as organised drug crime, the BKA pursues the so-called source country strategy, among others.

This strategy is based on the idea that the fight against crime should not start at home, but already commence in the countries of origin and transit. On the one hand this involves obtaining information on socioeconomic and political developments in these countries and the impact they have on crime development in Germany and Europe. Such information is obtained from various sources, including our worldwide network of liaison officers.

On the other hand, tangible training and material assistance is provided for the police forces of the counties concerned in order to improve their performance in combating crime, securing borders and promoting the rule of law and democracy.

Co-operation with the Business Community

The BKA increasingly integrates third parties in order to enhance its early-detection capabilities. In addition to the proven forms of cooperation with societies and associations from the business community – first and foremost with the Association for Security in Trade and Industry (ASW) – and the transmission of information by the company Securicon, since 2006 we have been in intensive direct contact with the German “global players”.

In addition to reciprocal visits for the purpose of exchanging information, bilateral co-operations exist between particular sections (e.g. financial investigations, forensic science) and individual enterprises, between representatives of companies and BKA liaison officers abroad.

Security Research

If one wishes to influence the circumstances surrounding the primary, structural or situative conditions of crime development, then security research is imperative: The BKA – both a user of security research and also a research institute – highlights crime prevention objectives in cooperation with associations, institutions and societies and develops strategies in order to hinder potential offenders from using the new technologies for their criminal purposes.

Today, the European Commission provides significant impetus. As part of the 7th EU Research Framework Programme, the European Commission will make € 1.4 billion available for appropriate projects until 2013. A committee of some 70 experts representing industry, the sciences, and the users of the security system „European Security Research and Innovation Forum“ (ESRIF), will advise the Commission on the focus of content.

Currently, 11 working groups are researching such issues as „Security of Citizens“, „Security of Critical Infrastructures“, and „Border Security“.

In 2007, the Federal Government and ten other European states agreed upon a corresponding national security research programme which, similar to the European one, emphasises the necessity to carry out multidisciplinary security research which combines technological and sociological questions. The high level of networking between those involved in security research can in itself be regarded as a significant success.

Conclusion

Changes in the global threat situations are giving rise to new questions which require new answers from the security agencies and private actors. The BKA holds that we have to form new alliances at all levels, but most notably, we have to extend international cooperation.

Security agencies and the private sector must further intensify their cooperation in order to keep pace with the rapid developments within the field of crime.

Contact:

German Federal Police Bundeskriminalamt,
Wiesbaden, Germany
bka@info.de
www.bka.de