On 24 September, Europol announced the winners of the 2024 Europol Excellence Awards in Innovation at its annual European Police Chiefs Convention.
This year, the Croatian, Estonian and Dutch Police were recognised for their achievements in three categories: Innovation initiative in ethics, diversity and inclusion; Innovative operation and Innovative technical solution.
The Europol Excellence Awards in Innovation are presented annually by Europol to put a spotlight on the law enforcement community’s most innovative initiatives and operations.
Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle, praised the winners, stating, “Innovation is essential to staying ahead of today’s criminal networks. The projects recognised today exemplify the ingenuity and dedication of Europe’s law enforcement community in embracing new technologies to protect citizens across the EU.”
This year’s winners were carefully selected by a panel composed of the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, as well as the Police Chiefs of Hungary, Belgium and Poland, and Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle.
Winner: Blue Focus (The Netherlands)
BlueFocus is a pioneering service that enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of the Netherlands Police by integrating advanced technology and innovative processes to identify suspects. The BlueFocus application allows police officers to upload and share photos and videos for recognition, leveraging AI to improve accuracy and speed in identifying individuals, goods, and locations.
Runners up: Grand Theft API (Germany) and The Nordland Omegle Case – use of facial recognition technology in the prevention and investigation of sexual abuse against children (Norway).
Award for Innovative Operation
Winner: Operation Phish OFF (Estonia)
OP PhishOFF permanently dismantled the Phishing-as-a-Service service “LabHost” through an international joint operation, while also influencing criminals to abandon their activities by creating a sense of immediate pursuit. Estonia played a key role in this effort, creating a series of innovative tools to identify the malicious services, take down the infrastructure, and send personal messages to users of the service. This innovative method is transferable to other law enforcement authorities for future use.
Runners up: Operation ENDGAME (Germany) and Operation DRF: Drone as First Responder (Sweden)
Winner: Project ‘I Can Like You’ (Croatia)
The “I Can Like You” project by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia aims to include underrepresented groups and individuals, promote equal opportunities, and foster a sense of belonging through crime prevention, employment initiatives, and community engagement. It targets both external groups and the internal structure of the Ministry to enhance security and inclusion.
Runner ups: Project: Inside Out (Ireland) and Project: re_BOOTCMP (The Netherlands)
Innovation at Europol
These awards are overseen by Europol’s Innovation Lab, which focuses on identifying and implementing innovative solutions that enhance the operational capabilities of law enforcement across the European Union. It serves as a platform for collaboration between law enforcement, industry, and academia, aimed at addressing the challenges of modern policing. The Lab develops practical tools and technologies, such as advanced data analytics and AI-driven systems, to strengthen investigations and improve security outcomes. By doing so, it ensures law enforcement agencies are equipped to combat evolving threats.
This is the fourth iteration of the Europol Excellence Awards in Innovation.
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