European securityEurope-wide ballistic information sharing would reduce gun death from terrorism, crime

Published 27 May 2016

All countries across Europe are being urged to establish national “Firearms Focal Points” to collect, study, and share information about firearms and ballistics to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by gun crime and terrorism. This is one of the key findings following a 15-month multi-agency research project which looked to analyze the prevalence of gun crime across Europe and, based on the findings, identify initiatives and interventions that could be further pursued and developed to tackle the problem.

 

All countries across Europe are being urged to establish national “Firearms Focal Points” to collect, study, and share information about firearms and ballistics to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by gun crime and terrorism.

This is one of the key findings following a 15-month multi-agency research project led by Coventry University. The EFFECT Project, which launched in February last year, looked to analyze the prevalence of gun crime across Europe and, based on the findings, identify initiatives and interventions that could be further pursued and developed to tackle the problem.

Coventry U says that recommendations from the project, which was funded by the European Union and supported by the UN Development Programs South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), were presented to members of the European Parliament, European police chiefs, and heads of international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol and Europol, in Brussels earlier this week.

While researchers looked in detail at countries in South Eastern Europe, the recommendations are relevant to all European countries, regardless of whether they are members of the EU.

Coventry University’s Dr. Helen Poole, one of the project leaders, said:

In South Eastern Europe we found that investigators and prosecutors require additional support in developing their ballistics information and intelligence structures supported by adequate training that will enable them to use the positive impact that ballistics information can deliver in addressing a number of complex security challenges.

Countries and the sub-region need to have the necessary common technology and harmonised procedures in place that would enable them to further coordinate and reduce the availability and use of illegal firearms.

If each country created a single ‘Firearms Focal Point’ that would be able to conduct the same processes as their cross-border/boundary counterpart – that is to gather, analyse and then share information not only about the firearms, but also its pertaining ballistic material, then this would be a major leap forward in protecting communities. That is why a proposal is being put forward towards the establishment of the South East Europe Ballistic Information Network.

Enabling that network to operate alongside a proposed EU-wide network, with ballistic information being shared among a number of jurisdictions through agreed protocols and managed by Europol, which already handles criminal intelligence to improve effectiveness and cooperation between states, would allow links between gun crime, criminals and the firearms trafficking across the continent to be identified.”

As part of the research Arquebus, a U.K. based company specializing in ballistics intelligence was asked to examine 1,000 gun cartridge cases provided by the Serbian Police Directorate from their file of previously committed crimes in Serbia by analyzing them against a number of international ballistics databases. In doing so they worked closely with the country’s National Criminalistic Technical Center.

Arquebus Director Matt Lewis said:

In our examination of cartridge cases in Serbia, using ballistic analysis systems not currently available in the country, we were able to identify connections relating to around 50 shootings, a considerable number of which were previously unknown to the relevant investigators.

We also compared the results against a number of ballistic databases in other countries and identified potential links with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the territory of Kosovo[1] and Sweden.

Firearms, as a tool of crime can be used by criminals on multiple occasions both internally within a country and across international borders. Developing an accurate picture of their use and how they are trafficked is vital. All of this information is vital for law enforcement organizations and is in the direct interest of all citizens and institutions across Europe and beyond.

A Europe-wide ballistic information network will help further reduce deaths and injuries caused by the illegal use of firearms for crimes and terrorism. Understanding more about where they originate from, how they move within countries and cross border, and if they have been used before will enable the UK to work with other countries to help tackle the problem at source, rather than at our borders.”

Further information about the EFFECT Project, including the agencies involved and the main findings and recommendations report, is available at this link.