The catalysing effect of serious crime on the use of surveillance technologies for prevention and investigation purposes

This Working Paper is based on two research reports that were the outcome of the research carried out by the team of the Université Libre de Bruxelles within the FP7 project SURVEILLE. Such research focused on the use of surveillance technologies for the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of serious crime. Taken together, the two reports developed a comparative analysis of a number of surveillance technologies and techniques used at different stages of the criminal procedure within selected national jurisdictions. The first project deliverable, finalised in October 2012 and entitled “The use of surveillance technologies for the prevention and investigation of serious crime” (D4.1), addressed the use of the interception of telecommunications and video-surveillance in three countries, namely France, Italy and the United Kingdom. The second deliverable, finalised in April 2013 and entitled “Comparative law paper on data retention regulation on a sample of EU Member States” (D4.3), examined the rules governing the retention of data by telecommunications companies and internet service providers for criminal justice purposes in nine countries (i.e. Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom). The two reports test the existence of what the authors call a double shift: the means at the disposal of competent national authorities (intelligence services and law enforcement agencies) in the fight against serious crime are evolving in such a way that the share of tasks and competences is now increasingly blurred.

Journal/Publisher: New Journal of European Criminal Law, Volume 4, Issue 3

Co-author/s: Francesca GALLI

Publication type: Article

Number of pages/Page range: 256-289

Language/s (content): English

Date of publication: 02-01-13

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Full name Celine COCQ

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University/Institution ULB-IEE

Address Av F. Roosevelt 39

Postal code 1050, Bruxelles

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Email celicocq@ulb.ac.be