CENTRIC attends CEPOL Research & Science Conference
CENTRIC colleagues were pleased to attend the 2024/2025 CEPOL Research & Science Conference, held in the city of Ostia, Rome from the 25th - 27th of March. This year’s conference centred on the theme “Tackling the World of High-Risk Criminal Networks (HRCN)”, drawing together a diverse audience of academics, law enforcement professionals, policymakers, and representatives from the private sector. The event provided a platform for knowledge exchange, collaborative problem-solving, and the exploration of forward-thinking strategies to address the evolving threat of organised crime.
Over the course of the three-day event, CENTRIC made several key contributions. Research Fellow Gabriela Boneva participated in Parallel Session No. 6, titled “Emerging Trends in the Landscape of High-Risk Criminal Networks.” During this session, Gabriela delivered a well-received and thought-provoking presentation on the latest findings in New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) landscape research. Her talk, which engaged discussion among attendees, was based on a paper developed as part of the EU-funded ARIEN project, which focuses on analysing and responding to illicit drug trends within high-risk criminal environments.
Adding to CENTRIC’s strong presence at the conference, Professor Babak Akhgar, CENTRIC’s Director, delivered the keynote speech on the final day. His presentation focused on the role of Artificial Intelligence in combatting high-risk criminal networks, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI-driven technologies into law enforcement and security practices. Beyond the formal sessions, the conference also served as a valuable opportunity for networking, allowing CENTRIC representatives to connect with stakeholders from across Europe and explore potential avenues for future collaboration.
