Warsaw hosted an important meeting on the future of international police cooperation
On 2-3 April 2025, Warsaw hosted one of the key meetings for the future of international police cooperation in the European Union. The Heads of Single Point of Contact (HoSPOC) from the EU member states as well as representatives of the General Secretariat of the Council of the EU, the European Commission, Europol, CEPOL and Interpol gathered at the National Stadium. The event was hosted by the Polish Police and delegations were welcomed by Colonel Ireneusz Sieńko, Director of the International Police Cooperation Bureau at the National Police Headquarters.
What are Single Points of Contact (SPOC)?
Single Points of Contact (SPOC) play an extremely important role in international police cooperation, ensuring a constant flow of information and 24/7 coordination of operations. In the Polish Police, SPOC operates under the International Police Cooperation Bureau of the National Police Headquarters. The main tasks of SPOC employees and officers include coordinating the exchange of criminal intelligence through Interpol, SIRENE and Europol channels, processing hits in international search databases, coordinating cross-border operations and taking actions with the objective of saving human life and health
A unique meeting in the wake of a new directive
HoSPOC meetings are held on a regular basis, however, the one in Warsaw was special because it was the first activity of this kind following the implementation of the new Directive 2023/977 regulating the international exchange of information within the EU. The objective of the directive is to improve international cooperation between law enforcement authorities, especially in terms of exchanging criminal intelligence, with a focus on using the SIENA application provided by Europol. This directive also introduces a new SPOC structure and requirements for the Case Management System (CMS), which provides the working environment for SPOC.
During the meeting, representatives of the member states shared their experiences related to the implementation of the new directive, emphasising the challenges associated with the integration of CMS systems into both domestic and international systems. The delegates were also able to learn more about the Polish SPOC's operations during their visit to the National Police Headquarters. The head of the Polish SPOC is the acting Head of the Information Exchange Support Department of the IPCB at the National Police Headquarters – Captain Konrad Wierzbicki.
Polish priorities regarding safety and security
Representatives of Poland seized the opportunity to emphasise the areas of safety and security that are key to the Polish presidency. The discussion addressed hybrid threats, including those related to illegal migration, cybersecurity, and the impact of the war in Ukraine on the development of Russian-speaking criminal groups in the EU and the risk of arms flowing from the conflict zone.
Input from international organisations and new tools
Representatives of the European Commission, Europol, CEPOL and Interpol presented the assumptions and planned solutions concerning the functioning of SPOC in the context of changes in European legislation. They also outlined further changes with the objective of increasing the efficiency of international police cooperation. The commitment of the Polish party in the cooperation so far was also appreciated.
The meeting was also an opportunity to present the operation of Police and Customs Cooperation Centres, whose objective is to enable direct cooperation between the Police, Customs and Border Guard services, especially in the cross-border exchange of information. Also, new Interpol tools were presented, including the so-called silver note, which makes it possible to determine the assets and property held by offenders in different countries.
Working together for increased safety
The meetings of the Heads of Police Cooperation (HoSPOC) aim to develop joint solutions to improve international police cooperation based on best practices and applicable laws. The conclusions drawn during the Warsaw meeting may translate into specific solutions implemented in connection with the modernisation and development of new systems with the objective of ensuring increased security for all EU citizens.
