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In June/beginning of July the training course for tourism trainers, which has been developed in the course of the TTRAIN project, will take place in Palermo. The training course, which is free of charge, addresses trainers and employees in the tourism sector, who dispose of a minimum of two years of professional experience in a tourism enterprise (hotel, restaurant, tour operator, travel agency etc.). The aim of the course is to provide the participants with competences and tools necessary to train their fellow colleagues, in order to improve the services offered by their enterprises. It is based on a proven methodology named “Stepping Stones”, which foresees a practical training with lessons in the training room and tasks at their working place, so that participants can apply immediately the newly acquired competences.

Ecstasy is making a comeback as the drug of choice for young people in the UK and across Europe – and it is much stronger than before, the EU’s drug agency has warned. The 2016 European Drug Report says there are clear indications that ecstasy – the common name of MDMA – is returning to popularity with both established drug users and a new generation, but this time powders and tablets are likely to contain much higher doses than in previous years

Economists increasingly note that cities are a key driving force of the modern global economy, but urbanism rarely features prominently in the conversation about economic crisis and recovery. In his new book Cities and Crisis, Josef Konvitz [...] examines the vulnerability of cities, the limits to existing policies to cope with threats, and the key role cities should play in any economic recovery. Ultimately, Konvitz argues that cities are indeed at the center of crises in the 21st century.

Globally, some 27 million people suffer from drug use disorders, with almost 200,000 losing their lives each year to overdose and other drug-related causes. Meanwhile, some 13 per cent of those who inject drugs are infected with HIV, compared with less than one per cent among the general population. Against this backdrop, these, and other challenges, were addressed in a statement issued to the Secretariat of the WHO's 69th World Health Assembly.|

Coinciding with the 25th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) that took place in Vienna at the end of May, UNODC, together with the Governments of Canada, Norway, Qatar and Switzerland organized a special event on the challenges faced by a number of countries regarding the recruitment of children by terrorist groups, and to their treatment by the justice system.

"Our mission has never been clearer, or better articulated," UNODC Chief Yury Fedotov said at the closing ceremony of the Crime Commission in Vienna. "This is the first Crime Commission to be held after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The week's activities have strengthened bonds between our efforts in crime prevention and criminal justice and work undertaken to promote sustainable development," he added.�� � Fisheries crime: bringing to light the perfect storm of illegal activities in the fishing sector At a discussion on the margins of the Crime Commission taking place at the end of May in Vienna, a panel of experts looked at the best approaches to deal with transnational organized fisheries crime. This crime is an ill-defined legal concept referring to a range of illicit activities in the fisheries sector, including illegal fishing, document fraud, drug trafficking, and money laundering, among others.� � � Stepping up the global response to trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants Across the world, children, women and men are on the move for different reasons - some are fleeing conflict; others may be escaping serious human rights violations or poverty. Regardless of their specific reasons, too many of these perilous journeys are organized by smugglers. Against this backdrop, a high-level event was held at the Crime Commission on the recently launched GLO.ACT. � � � � Wildlife crime assessed globally for the first time in new UNODC report At the end of May UNODC launched its inaugural World Wildlife Crime Report, highlighting how the poaching and illegal trade of thousands of different species across the globe not only present real environmental dangers but ultimately undermine the rule of law by potentially fuelling conflict. The report - part of UNODC's ongoing Global Programme on Wildlife and Forest Crime - also urges shared responsibility in tackling this crime. � �

It can cost over $1 billion to develop a new drug, but many fall at the last hurdle. Here’s how we could stop this happening

More than 200 participants from over 30 countries came together last week to discuss the important issue of the use of Electronic monitoring within the field of Criminal Justice. Over the years the CEP EM conference has become known as the platform par excellence for being updated about the newest technical developments in EM, to hear the latest experiences with EM from the different probation services, and to exchange ideas on the topic.

The annual Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACVPA) recognise and reward good practice in the prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crime in Australia. The awards encourage public initiatives, and assist governments in identifying and developing practical projects which will reduce violence and other types of crime in the community. This year, the ACVPA celebrates its 25th year. Any government agency, not-for-profit organisation or individual person making a significant contribution to a project in Australia can be nominated for an award. Projects may address specific groups such as rural and remote communities, women, children, youth, family, migrant, ethnic or Indigenous communities, or specific problems such as alcohol-related violence. Last year, awards of up to $10,000 supported two projects from around Australia. The ACVPA committee is again calling for nominations for 2016. Nominations for the 2016 ACVPA are now open.

Alcohol: How can we reduce the harm it causes? You don't have to read the newspaper or watch the news very often to be all too aware that alcohol causes harm – but I was surprised to read these statistics about the scale of that harm. - There are over 300 alcohol-related offences committed in New Zealand every day. - Half of all our serious violent crimes, including child homicides, are related to alcohol. - The majority of sexual assaults are thought to be associated with alcohol use. - Alcohol causes around 500 serious and fatal road accidents every year. [...]

The architects of the new Psychoactive Substances Act – which bans all mind-altering substances, bar alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and a few others – may today be reflecting on a job well done. Homepages of online “legal high” retailers are displaying "thank you and goodbye" messages to customers. Those in the habit of buying from their high-street headshops will find only closed shutters. However, any political pride in the Act is misplaced. This blanket ban is the culmination of decades of failure to suppress human desires for intoxication and exploring the boundaries of consciousness.

CEP is establishing a Probation Awards Scheme to celebrate outstanding contributions to Probation. Nominations can be made in 4 categories: 1. Rehabilitation in the community – an award for work which is effective in rehabilitating probation clients and reducing reoffending. 2. Social inclusion – an award for work which has made a significant contribution to integrating probation clients into the community. 3. Public protection – an award for making a significant contribution to reducing risk of harm to potential victims. 4. Research – an award for research which has had a major impact on probation practice. Award winners will receive an engraved plaque and a framed photograph of them receiving their award at the General Assembly in Bucharest in October 2016. Opportunities would be found for their work to be showcased in the media, on the website – either at the conference or at future events.

May 31, 2016 By the CSG Justice Center Staff riskA recent ProPublica story on risk and needs assessment asked some important questions about a particular risk and needs assessment tool and the broader implications of its use. As the national discussion continues about the use and value of risk and needs assessment, The Council of State Governments Justice Center offers the following comments on risk and needs assessment as it relates to racial disparity and bias in the criminal justice system.

Hosted by the National Reentry Resource Center, with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance Date: Wednesday, June 22 Time: 2–3:30 p.m. ET Accessing stable, affordable housing is vital to successful reentry. Individuals experiencing homelessness are more likely to be arrested than those who are stably housed, and people with criminal records are more likely to become homeless than those without. Those who exit jail or prison to emergency shelters or the streets are more likely to re-offend. This relationship between homelessness and contact with the criminal justice system is frequently complicated by mental and behavioral health concerns. In this webinar, presenters will: • Cover some basic facts about homelessness, and how homelessness intersects with the criminal justice system; • Discuss potential solutions to homelessness, and how homeless services and access to temporary and supportive housing are delivered through local Department of Housing and Urban Development-funded Continuums of Care (CoCs); and • Discuss how reentry service providers can work better with their local CoCs, and how to better serve people experiencing homelessness or risk of homelessness.

The European Commission has today presented a series of measures to support Member States in their efforts to prevent and fight radicalisation leading to violent extremism and terrorism. This initiative is part of the Commission's work under the European Agenda on Security adopted in April 2015 and towards achieving an effective and genuine EU Security Union. The Communication presented today includes initiatives in several policy areas, from boosting research to help better understand the radicalisation phenomenon, to preventing its manifestations through education, to tackling it on the Internet and in prisons, to how we can strengthen cooperation with third countries facing similar challenges. What is the added value of EU action in the fight against radicalisation leading to violent extremism? The recent terrorist attacks in Europe have once again underlined the urgent need to tackle radicalisation leading to violent extremism and terrorism. The majority of the terrorist suspects implicated in those attacks were European citizens, born and raised in EU Member States, who were radicalised and turned against their fellow citizens to commit atrocities. Preventing radicalisation is a central part of the fight against terrorism, as highlighted in the European Agenda on Security. Actions countering radicalisation take place mainly on the ground, at local but also regional or national levels, and fall primarily within the competences of the Member States. Local actors such as teachers, youth and social workers, community leaders, psychologists, NGOs, think-tanks, community police, prison and probation officers as well as representatives of local authorities are usually best placed to prevent and detect radicalisation both in the short term and the long term. At the same time, the process of violent radicalisation has important transnational implications which require a more coordinated approach and support from the European level. To support Member States in their efforts, the Commission will primarily mobilise its policy and funding instruments as well as European networks. Most actions in the Communication will be implemented in close collaboration with the Member States. What are the root causes of radicalisation leading to terrorism? EU research has provided useful comparative results on radicalisation and de-radicalisation processes and on the evolving and complex social context of religions, multiculturalism and political extremism in many Member States. There is a growing consensus that drivers conducive to radicalisation may include a strong sense of alienation, perceived injustice or humiliation reinforced by social marginalisation, xenophobia and discrimination, limited education or employment possibilities, criminality or psychological problems. These factors can be exploited by recruiters who prey on vulnerabilities and grievances through manipulation. Recent developments including the most recent terrorist attacks perpetrated in Europe, but more broadly the large number of EU foreign terrorist fighters, the increasing number of women and children becoming radicalised and recruited by terrorist groups as well as the use of modern communication tools for such purposes, represent new challenges in terms of understanding and addressing the underlying root causes and processes of radicalisation. What evidence exists already on the phenomenon of radicalisation? The phenomenon of radicalisation is not new. EU research has provided useful comparative results on radicalisation and de-radicalisation processes among young people and on the evolving and complex social context of religions, multiculturalism and political extremism in many Member States. Several projects on radicalisation were launched under the Seventh Framework Programme for European Research and Technological Development (FP7). In addition, the Commission has included research topics on radicalisation and inclusion in 2016 under its research and development programme Horizon 2020. The fresh evidence generated by these projects will strengthen the capacity of Member States to fine-tune existing policy approaches and develop new policies and practices. In which areas will the Communication support Members States? What are some examples of concrete actions the Commission will take? This Communication focuses on how work at EU level can support Member States in meeting this challenge in the following seven specific areas: (i) Supporting research, evidence building, monitoring and networking For instance, the Commission will increase its research on radicalisation to help Member States fine-tune existing policy approaches and practices. (ii) Countering terrorist propaganda In the coming months the Commission, Europol, Member States, civil society and industry will put forward a toolbox of targeted actions. This will, for instance, include a Joint Referral Platform to be developed by the internet industry with the contribution of different stakeholders. The aim is to strengthen the referrals process and prevent removed material from being re-uploaded to other platforms. (iii) Addressing radicalisation in prisons The RAN Centre of Excellence will provide policy recommendations on the prevention of radicalisation for first-line practitioners, covering the prison and probation sector. In addition, the EU will develop education and training programmes in prisons (including vocational training) to ease detainees' reintegration into society. (iv) Promoting inclusive education and EU common values As one of the actions to achieve this goal, the Commission is making available through Erasmus+ more than € 400 million in 2016 to transnational partnerships to develop innovative policy approaches and practices at grassroots level, prioritising social inclusion, the promotion of common values and intercultural understanding. The Commission will also set up a network to enable visits from local role models – entrepreneurs, sportspeople, as well as formerly radicalised people – to schools, youth centres or sports clubs. (v) Promoting an inclusive, open and resilient society and reaching out to young people For example, the Commission will continue to work with the European Parliament and the Council towards the adoption of the anti-discrimination directive. It will also enhance its support to youth workers and youth organisations, particularly by developing a toolkit helping them to detect and tackle violent radicalisation. (vi) The security dimension of addressing radicalisation For instance, the Commission will, by the end of 2016, propose to revise the Schengen Information System to further improve its added value for law enforcement and counter-terrorism purposes. (vii) The international dimension. The Commission will, for instance, focus the EU's external financial instruments on the prevention of violent radicalisation. It will also set up Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges between young people from inside and outside the EU, aiming to bring 200,000 of them together through these structured online discussions by 2020 to boost intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding. How does the EU support projects in the fight against radicalisation? The fight against radicalisation is multi-dimensional, and there is funding available at EU level from a range of programmes, which can be used for relevant actions, spread across different policy areas. 1.One source of support are national programmes implemented by EU countries participating in the Internal Security Fund (ISF). For instance, ISF-Police national programmes contain projects related to radicalisation with a total amount of € 314 million for 2014-2020. 2.The Commission can also support projects on radicalisation through several instruments such as the horizontal ISF-Police for Union actions depending on the scope of the actions foreseen in the project. For these actions, the Commission approves Annual Work Programmes that define the priorities and objectives for each year, including the priorities for the calls for proposals. 3.Another source of financial support is Erasmus+, the EU education and training programme. As of 2016, priority is given to actions and projects that foster inclusion and promote fundamental values, echoing the objectives of the Paris Declaration of March 2015. As a result, € 400 million is now available to develop new policies and projects supporting these priorities, and an additional € 13 million will be spent on helping to spread and scale up grassroots initiatives. 4.Finally, the European Structural and Investment Funds implemented at national or regional level can be mobilised. From 2014 to 2020, € 25.6 billion will go directly towards fostering the social inclusion of disadvantaged groups, for instance through tailor-made training programmes and social support schemes. In addition, more than € 8 billion will be used to help schools address early school leaving and increase access to quality education for all, for instance through adapting school curricula, teacher education courses and individual support to disadvantaged learners.

The Stockholm Criminology Symposium 2016 will take place at City Conference Center in June 14-16,2016 Tune in at these times: TUE June 14, 9.00-17.00; WED June 15, 9.00-14.55; THU June 16, 9.00-12.00. All times Central European Time (CET)

The winners are awarded the prize in recognition of their important joint advance in knowledge about how parents and peers shape successes, or failures, in preventing adult violence and crime. The prize award ceremony and dinner will take place in Stockholm City Hall on June 15.

applications for the following courses are open: • MSc in Countering Organised Crime and Terrorism, • MSc in Crime Science, • MSc in Crime and Forensic Science Most of the courses now available via Distance Learning DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 31st JULY 2016

Not to be missed: the CEP conference on working with young adult offenders. The conference will take place in Lillestrøm, Norway on the 31st August- 1st September 2016. The program includes contributions from Norway, The Netherlands, the United States of America, Catalonia, Slovenia, Estonia, Belgium, England and Scotland. The program will run as a lunch-to-lunch seminar and will combine plenary sessions and workshops with specific themes. Subjects to be presented and discussed include i.a.: • transitions between juvenile and adult penal settings; • dealing with juvenile extremist offenders; • various health-based and motivational approaches; • practical and outreaching work with young adult offenders; • practices of restorative justice in various settings; • working with young adult foreign offenders, young adult female offenders etc.

The awards ceremony for the European Prize for Social Integration through Sport is organised by the European Forum for Urban Security with the support of the European Commission. This prize aims to help develop initiatives promoting social integration through the teaching of values such as respect and tolerance through sport. One winner will be awarded in each of the following categories: Prevention and fight against racism; Promotion of gender equality; Integration of marginalised people; Inclusion of people at risk; Education in active citizenship or fair play. The European Prize for Social Integration through Sport is organised as part of the Sport + Project and in partnership with the ASBL Fan coaching-Eurofan (Belgium), the University of Zaragoza (Spain), the Italian Forum for Urban Security (FISU), the Knowlegde Center for Sports (Netherlands) and the Higher Institute of Police Sciences and Internal Security (ISCPSI – Portugal). The ceremony will feature in the ‘Euro 2016 Debates’ organised by the Agency for Education through Sport (APELS) as part of the initiative of the city of Saint-Denis.

The implementation of local actions to improve individual and collective security requires a clear and precise understanding both of crime in a given community and of the various perceptions of safety held by different groups of the population. The purpose of this guidebook is to encourage and help European local policy-makers and practitioners to build and review their security policies using reliable information and data collected on the ground. It is the result of work carried out between 2013 and 2016 in the framework of the European project “Methodological tools for the definition of local security policies in Europe (AUDITS)”. This project was co-financed by the European Commission and brought together the European, French, German and Italian Forums for Urban Security as well as the cities of Rotterdam and Stuttgart as partners. They were supported by the Ministry of the Interior of Belgium, the Ministry of the Interior of Portugal, the Belgian Forum for Prevention and Urban Security and the city of Brussels as associate partners, as well as the experts Sohail Husain, Francesc Guillén Lasierra and Svetislav Paunovic.

9/11/2016 Rotterdam Alliance of European cities against violent extremism Conference Co-organised by the European Forum for Urban Security, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the City of Rotterdam

June 7, 2016 By CSG Justice Center Staff Louisiana correctionsPeople who are returning to Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana, from two correctional facilities in the state are receiving individualized roadmaps to successful reentry from an unexpected place: the RNR Simulation Tool—a web-based, decision-support system designed in part to assist agencies in determining what types of programming will be most effective in reducing a person’s likelihood of committing another crime. “It’s hard for some of our clients to understand how a computer can tell them whether they’re likely to succeed or fail in the community,” said Shelley Edgerton, a licensed professional counselor at the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPS&C). “I had a client who was incarcerated for 18 years. She’d never really used a computer, let alone had one tell her how her recovery might go.” Despite initial reservations from some clients, though, Edgerton said that the RNR Simulation Tool often doesn’t tell her and her colleagues anything they don’t already know about what their clients might need. Instead, it gives them a more organized way to build each client’s treatment plan. The tool is an integral part of DPS&C’s New Beginnings program, which is funded by a 2014 Second Chance Act Reentry Program for Adults with Co-Occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Disorders grant, and designed for people who are reentering their communities from incarceration at the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center or the Louisiana Correctional Institution for Women.

Generations of refugees have made an immeasurable contribution to the development of Europe. Without refugees our culture and sport would not be the same. This year on #worldrefugeeday we reveal a Euro 2016 Refugee XI. All of the players are refugees, or the children of refugees, who arrived in the country they represent after fleeing war or persecution. Many of them have inspiring stories to tell. With the ball at their feet we think our team could be a match for anybody, off the field we hope they bring to life the observation of historian Eric Hobsbawm, “The imagined community of millions seems more real as a team of eleven named people.” Sport can be a great means of integrating new arrivals, as many members of the Fare network are showing. You can see how they and many others are doing it in our database of refugees and football initiatives. This summer we are supporting projects across Europe that link sport and inclusion with refugees in Austria, France, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Poland.

Now available on Public Safety Canada’s website (voir ci-contre pour la version française) Evaluation Summary of the Towards No Drug Abuse Program Research Summary Research Report A final evaluation was conducted to determine if at risk youth in Hamilton, Ontario reduced crime related outcomes after receiving the Towards No Drugs Intervention. The report includes the final outcomes related to drug & alcohol use, weapons carrying, levels of victimization and changes in knowledge, skills, and attitudes about drug abuse.

German Congress on Crime Prevention and Radicalisation Awareness Network Monday, July 11, 2016 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM (CEST) Engagement with and empowerment of communities are critical in the prevention of radicalisation leading to violent extremism. Communities and families within there can offer support and guidance within the community. Moreover they can play a role in challenging extremist narratives and messages and provide for alternative narratives. When it comes to people at risk of radicalisation, communities can also be a wealth of knowledge and can provide information that could help authorities. Communities need also receive support and be listened to when extremism contributes to grieve, vulnerability and fear. Establishing trust-based relationship communities is essential to be able to engage and empower them. A vital element of community engagement is a reciprocal and transparent relationship between communities and statuary bodies/local authorities. Reciprocal means that grievances and practical needs of the communities should also be addressed. Being transparent in the motives for and throughout the process of engagement, will also increase the chance of establishing a trust-based relationship. How are cities dealing with communities when it comes to the delicate subject of radicalisation? That is the topic of our upcoming webinar on 11 July from 4 to 5 pm (Brussels time). Two experts who work on the grass root level will speak about their experiences regarding engaging and working with communities: Diane Schubert from Augsburg (Germany) and William Baldet from Leicester UK.