Brussels, 08/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - Police experts for the Fifteen met in Valencia on 5 and 6 March to prepare the meeting of the Chief of Police Task Force, to be held in a month in Spain. Whereas the Task Force, which bring together the chiefs of police of the Fifteen, is criticised for its lack of operational character, the experts undertook to work in the coming month to reach a "diagnostic" and "concrete proposals" on a whole series of subjects. In Valencia, they adopted a declaration containing an initial list of 25 "recommendations", in which it is a question of "zero tolerance" and commitment to closer co-operation, and in which the European police also use the fairly unwelcome term of "avalanche of immigrants". "Phenomena such as the avalanche of immigrants by different means of transport must be the subject of similar legal treatment at all of Europe's doors", they write in their conclusions.
The meeting was placed under the angle of delinquency "that directly affects the quality of life of citizens", delinquency in the European Union not only being due to cross-border crime, stress the police experts of the Fifteen. Security concerns are important in society, and it has increased since 11 September, the EU police also note. The declaration foremost mentions delinquency linked to drug consumption, and also marks the police's concern at the consumption of alcohol and synthetic drugs by young people. The following point on the police list relates to a more general question of repeated re-offending, "cause of insecurity", against which the experts call for "zero tolerance". To combat that scourge, the law must act swiftly, they stress. The experts then paint a three-line portrait of delinquency: it is especially due to social exclusion and to young people aged between 15 and 30, but also to illegal immigrants, say the police experts, while stressing that "integration" is the best method of combating this. "The reduction in crime committed by foreigners is the best way to diminish racism and xenophobia", they also write. The conclusions of the experts also turn to prevention, noting the importance of the family, school, and extra-curricula activities, and, calling for citizen participation, "key element", for effective prevention. The experts, moreover, consider that it is important better to know real figures of delinquency, especially by encouraging victims to lodge complaints and reviewing the instruments for calculating delinquency. Combating the trafficking in human beings must be a priority. The experts conclude that the police Task Force must be more operational and concrete, stressing the importance of joint investigating teams.