ENLETS 3.0 is strengthening cooperation across Europe’s law enforcement agencies by tracking emerging technologies and sharing practical solutions. Central to this effort is the Operational Centres Technology Interest Group (OC TIG), which convenes practitioners to improve day-to-day coordination—especially during emergencies. The group identifies operational gaps and needs from the practitioner’s perspective and turns them into clear, actionable recommendations. This directly supports ENLETS 3.0’s strategic aim of enhancing secure, reliable communication between European security agencies.
Recent work has focused on crisis readiness. At its meeting in Valencia, the OC TIG developed realistic scenarios—such as large-scale flooding and a serious incident involving a suspected dangerous radioactive substance that could cause radiation contamination—to test current procedures and capabilities. These scenarios will underpin simulations that assess whether existing plans, tools and coordination mechanisms are fit for purpose and where improvements are required.
Another priority is the proposal for a European Grid of Operational Centres. The concept envisages regional clusters that mirror existing cooperation patterns—such as Benelux, Central Europe around Czechia, Northern Europe and Southern Europe including Spain and Italy—gradually linked into a wider EU framework. In time, the grid could be supported by the European Critical Communications System to ensure resilient, interoperable communications when they matter most.
The OC TIG is also exploring potential technologies for cross-border information exchange through secure communication applications. Another important task is to identify the conditions required for the direct interconnection of national operational management systems of national police forces. This work can then be used to develop technical specifications for the public procurement of new ICT for operational management, ensuring that emergency responders have rapid access to suitable, reliable and preferably European technologies, thereby reducing reliance on non-European suppliers where feasible. Harmonising technical specifications for the public procurement of ICT for emergency response would help agencies move much faster from need identification to operational deployment.
Together, these initiatives define the OC TIG’s priorities within ENLETS 3.0 and contribute to three shared outcomes: stronger cross-border cooperation between law enforcement agencies, improved interoperability and crisis preparedness, and the adoption of common, practical technology solutions that enhance public safety across Europe. The OC TIG will continue to test readiness, refine protocols and connect practitioners—ensuring that Europe’s operational centres are prepared for the next challenge, not the last.
Are you a law enforcement practitioner working in this field and keen to collaborate with peers across Europe to strengthen our collective security? Get in touch to learn how you can join the ENLETS network and contribute your expertise.
