The activities and tasks of the European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN), established in 2001, have significantly expanded over the past two decades. In view of the further implementation of its multiannual strategy, the EUCPN has commissioned a study into its current and future strategic market position, conducted with the financial support of the EU’s Internal Security Fund – Police. This book reflects the results. Whilst the EUCPN proves a well-equipped, versatile and multipurpose network in the EU crime prevention area, consolidation and further boosting are due. Key suggestions are to enhance outputs and visibility, to intensify existing partnerships, to broaden target and beneficiary audiences, including at local levels, to implement practice-oriented, multi-language and multimedia approaches, and to focus on the implementation, monitoring, coordination and evaluation of crime prevention policies or strategies, including through cooperation with academia.

Gert Vermeulen is senior full professor of international and European criminal law at Ghent University and director of the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP) and the Knowledge and Research Platform Privacy, Information Exchange, Law Enforcement and Surveillance (PIXLES). Wim Hardyns is assistant professor of criminology at Ghent University and member of the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP) and the Knowledge and Research Platform Privacy, Information Exchange, Law Enforcement and Surveillance (PIXLES). Lieven Pauwels is associate professor of criminology at Ghent University, and director of the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP). Jonas Dieussaert is researcher at the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP), Ghent University.