54 people arrested across Europe against labour exploitation

In recent weeks, law enforcement, border guards, and labour and tax authorities across Europe have joined forces to identify and combat labour exploitation. This recent edition of the EMPACT Joint Action Days focused on human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation, with special emphasis on the agricultural sector, gastronomy, and temporary employment agencies.

In particular, the authorities involved also took measures against the exploitation of third-country nationals and refugees. Led by France and the Netherlands, and carried out by authorities from 32 countries with the support of Europol and the European Labour Authority (ELA), the action days resulted in the arrest of 54 individuals and the identification of 404 potential victims of human trafficking.

Generally, the results of the action include:

• 22,296 officers from law enforcement and labour and tax authorities who participated in the action.

• 194,995 entities checked (including 73,218 individuals, 11,815 locations, 26,412 vehicles, and 83,958 documents).

• 93 individuals suspected of human trafficking identified (of which 92 for labour exploitation).

• 54 people arrested for various crimes (of which 44 for labour exploitation).

• 404 potential victims of human trafficking identified (of which 393 potential victims of labour exploitation).

• 341 new investigations in various crimes initiated (of which 43 are for labour exploitation).

The aim of this recurrent action is for the authorities to focus on the most relevant or widespread forms of labour exploitation in their respective countries. Inspections were carried out across a wide range of sectors, such as catering, gastronomy, food delivery, food and meat processing, beauty services, domestic healthcare, logistics and distribution, agriculture, construction, and mining.

Some countries have confirmed various modus operandi in human trafficking for agricultural and labour exploitation. These include discrepancies between employee payments and working hours, violations of minimum wage laws, undeclared work, illegal schemes operated by temporary employment agencies, breaches of maximum working hours, poor housing conditions provided by employers, the employment of minors, debt bondage, and work without permits. In addition, third-country nationals may use similar documents, counterfeit passports, and counterfeit residence permits. In general, cases of labour exploitation and forced labour are significantly underreported and do not reflect the true magnitude of the problem.

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Rebuilding the police-society link in France

The deterioration of police-population relations can be explained, in part, by the predominance of a short-term martial and political logic. This model is detrimental to citizens, victims of brutal practices, and to police officers, exposed to ill-defined and risky missions.

This idea is drawn from research conducted by Marie Lajus, senior official, former prefect and police commissioner; Jacques de Maillard, university professor; and Marc-Olivier Padis, Director of Studies at Terra Nova.

A recent inspection report notes a deterioration in the bond of trust between the internal security forces and the population. The gap between the population’s expectations and understanding of service priorities is obvious. This deterioration is not only worrisome because of user dissatisfaction. It also leads to less effective security policy action. The feeling of distance between the police and society hinders police work.

Opportunities for contact between the police and the population take place all too often during control interactions, in a coercive logic and sometimes in an offensive way, which creates a climate of distrust unfavourable to police work.

It also places agents in conflicting situations where their responsibility may be questioned. A police malaise is evident during a number of missions for which they are not prepared, or which are only aimed at the apparent deployment of force and repressive action. This discomfort is partly linked to the conditions and the general posture of intervention, in a context of permanent operational tension.

Police action during the health crisis was guided by official instructions in an essentially repressive direction. The police and gendarmerie forces were mobilised massively to verify the application of the confinement and its different measures (certificates, closing of squares, use of masks, etc.). In total, some 100,000 officers, i.e. almost all the personnel dedicated to public roads, were mobilised daily for this action.

The dominance of a primarily coercive mode of intervention, based on obsolete conceptions of crowd management and deterrence through the display of force, leads to situations of collective failure for which officers pay the price (injuries, degraded image, risk of criminal harassment).

But the benefits in terms of communication remain strong enough for political leaders to persist in the cul-de-sac. The yellow vests movements present a special case since it was not a matter of the police confronting organised demonstrations, with a declared route, identified organisers, responsible interlocutors, a controlled ritual. By default, in the eyes of the Ministry of the Interior, these were not demonstrations but rallies, i.e., a qualification that authorised the legal use of force in a much broader way.

In neighbouring countries, a completely different approach has been observed. For example, in the Netherlands, police action was carried out in a spirit of prevention, dialogue and accountability. The slogan chosen was not that of the «war against the virus» launched by the President of the Republic in France and then relayed from the Prime Minister to all hierarchical levels. The collective Dutch slogan was: «together, control the epidemic«.

The Dutch case shows that another strategy for managing containment was possible by emphasising contact with the population, prevention messages and support. The British police implemented practices according to a 4 E (Engage, Explain, Encourage, Enforce) approach, of which the coercion dimension was thus only one of the four dimensions, and whose evaluations have shown that it has helped to maintain or even develop public goodwill. In contrast, the numbers policy, which has already shown its limits, does not value any of the professional skills of the police. It only works on fear of the uniform or punishment, to the detriment of building a lasting bond between the police and society. This must involve strengthening the initial and continuing training of officers in charge of internal security, which is currently too limited in duration and insufficiently adapted in terms of content and preparation for the profession.

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Europol urges action against caller ID spoofing

Caller ID spoofing occurs when criminals falsify the information displayed on phones, making the numbers appear legitimate in order to deceive victims. This practice is causing significant financial and social damage, with an estimated loss of 850 million euros per year worldwide.

Europol is calling for a coordinated European response to tackle caller ID spoofing, an increasingly common tool used for online fraud and social engineering scams.

Phone calls and text messages continue to be the main entry point for these scams, accounting for approximately 64% of reported cases. By hiding their true identities and locations, criminals trick victims into revealing personal information, transferring funds or granting access to devices and accounts, making it extremely difficult for law enforcement to track and prosecute them.

Caller ID spoofing is increasingly exploited by organised criminal networks operating in multiple jurisdictions. Fraudsters impersonate banks, government agencies or even family members to gain trust. Some use it for so-called swatting incidents, making fake emergency calls from a victim’s address, triggering large-scale emergency responses.

Research shows the emergence of a «spoofing-as-a-service» business model, which provides ready-made tools to impersonate trusted entities such as law enforcement or financial institutions. Operating from abroad, these networks exploit jurisdictional loopholes to evade detection and prosecution.

The current imbalance, in which identity theft is easy to commit but difficult to investigate, is unsustainable. Europol is urging measures that make it more costly and technically complex for criminals to hide behind false identities, while allowing investigators to act quickly across borders.

A Europol survey conducted in 23 countries revealed significant challenges in implementing measures against caller ID spoofing. This means that the combined population of approximately 400 million people remains susceptible to such attacks.

Law enforcement highlighted the main obstacles as limited cooperation with telecom operators, fragmented regulations and lack of technical tools to identify and block bogus calls.

Europol and its partners have identified three priorities:

Harmonised technical standards: develop EU-wide mechanisms to trace fraudulent calls, verify legitimate caller IDs and block deceptive traffic.

Improving cross-border collaboration: strengthening cooperation between law enforcement, regulators and industry to share information and evidence efficiently.

Regulatory convergence: align national standards to enable legal traceability, clarify legitimate uses of caller ID masking and promote proven anti-fraud tools.

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20 gang members escape from a high-security prison in Guatemala, unleashing a national crisis

The unusual escape of 20 inmates linked to the feared Barrio 18 gang has put Guatemala on alert. The escape, which occurred gradually and quietly, has triggered a security crisis, purges in the prison system, and international pressures.

The events occurred in the Fraijanes II prison, a maximum-security facility on the outskirts of Guatemala City, specifically designed to confine gang members. Although the escapes occurred over several weeks, they were not made public until some time had passed.

The situation became even more complicated because it occurred shortly after the United States designated the Barrio 18 gang as a foreign terrorist organisation, equating it with drug cartels and international violent groups.

With only one of the recaptured fugitives —Byron Fajardo Revolorio, alias Black Demon, sentenced to 180 years of confinement— the Guatemalan government has mobilised up to 45,000 police officers and has requested support from Interpol and neighbouring countries, especially Mexico, to locate the offenders.

The reaction from the United States has been swift: its embassy in Guatemala has described the events as completely unacceptable and demands a strong response. Bilateral collaboration already includes facial recognition technology, training for prison officials, and even plans for the construction of a new supermax prison with the support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Minister of the Interior, Francisco Jiménez, has not evaded responsibilities: It is a very serious failure of the prison system. Authorities admit that internal controls were minimal, that there was no technology to verify the identity of inmates, and that there may have been internal complicity or bribery.

The leadership of the prison system was dismissed, including its head, Luis Alfonso Godínez, and prison directors will be required to take a polygraph test to detect links with criminal gangs.

Barrio 18: an Active Threat from Within Prisons

Barrio 18, often compared to MS-13, maintains a strong presence in Guatemala with about 12,000 members, of which 3,000 are imprisoned. Many of their leaders have continued to operate from within prisons, a common practice in Latin American countries, where corruption facilitates the introduction of mobile phones and other illegal means of communication.

A key player in this scenario is Aldo Dupie Ochoa, nicknamed El Lobo, alleged boss of Barrio 18. His recent transfer to another prison provoked altercations in several prisons, until a judge ordered his return to Fraijanes II, something that many analysts believe could have precipitated the collective escape.

This crisis highlights the serious deficiencies of the Guatemalan prison system and the complexity of combating gangs such as Barrio 18. With a combination of internal corruption, insufficient technology, and increasing international pressure, Guatemala faces a major challenge to restore control and prevent these terrorist organisations from operating with impunity from within its walls.

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Knife crime is declining: the UK begins to see results from its Plan for Change

A significant drop in knife crime in England and Wales marks a turning point in the fight against this type of crime. The latest data shows a 10% reduction in the most affected areas, thanks to an aggressive government plan and new prevention measures.

Knife robberies – one of the forms of crime that generates the most public alarm – have begun to decline across England and Wales. This reduction comes after the implementation of the Plan for Change, a strategy of the British government with the ambitious goal of halving knife crimes in ten years.

A specialised working group, formed in October 2024, has been key to reversing the upward trend observed between July 2023 and June 2024. This group includes seven police forces from the most affected areas, such as the Metropolitan Police, West Midlands , and Greater Manchester.

Between June 2024 and August 2025, there has been a notable decrease in knife-related robberies:

  • West Midlands: -30% (771 fewer cases)
  • British Transport Police: -26% (107 fewer crimes)
  • Avon and Somerset: -14%
  • South Yorkshire: -8%
  • West Yorkshire: -7%
  • Metropolitan Police: -5% (484 fewer cases)
  • Greater Manchester: -3%

Law enforcement agencies have implemented strategies such as patrols in hot spots, the use of drones, plain clothes officers, and knife detection arches.  Police intelligence has also been improved to identify potential offenders before they act.

Likewise, the Ministry of Interior introduced a series of legislative measures. They highlight the prohibition of ‘ninja’ swords (through Ronan’s Law, following the case of Ronan Kanda, a young man murdered with such a weapon) and the obligation to verify age in the online sale of knives.

With an initial budget of £2 million, the government has launched Young Futures Hubs, support centres for at-risk youth. In 2025, 8 centres will be put into operation in high-risk areas, aiming to reach 50 in the next four years.

Patrick Green, director of the Ben Kinsella Trust, believes that suppressing knife crime is not just about reducing offences, but about breaking the notion that carrying a weapon is necessary for self-protection.

The Minister of Crime, and also a police officer, Sarah Jones, has emphasised the importance of maintaining pressure. She believes that there is still much to be done, but a sustained decline is beginning to be seen for the first time in four years.

The road is long, but the initial figures indicate that change is possible with coordinated action, investment in youth, and zero tolerance for weapons.

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Sexual harassment on trains rises by a third in a decade in UK

Reports of sexual assaults and harassment on UK trains have increased by more than 37% since 2015, according to data collected by the BBC through a request for information from the British Transport Police (BTP). Last year alone, 2,661 incidents were recorded in England, Scotland and Wales, a figure that shows the persistence of a growing problem in public transport safety.

Of the cases reported, one in ten involved minors, some under the age of 13. In total, over 22,000 sexual offences related to the UK rail network have been reported in the last ten years.

The authorities point out that part of the increase in the number of reports may be related to greater social awareness and victims being more willing to report. The UK government has stressed that the increase in reported cases does not necessarily imply a real increase in crime but may reflect that more people feel able to report what they have experienced.

However, the British Transport Police acknowledge that the situation is worrying and that incidents continue to be under-reported. Many victims, according to authorities, still hesitate to report out of fear, shame or lack of trust in the system.

To combat the phenomenon, police patrols – including plain clothes officers – have been reinforced in trains and stations. These teams are specifically trained to detect suspicious behaviour, such as people seeking to position themselves near women travelling alone or seemingly vulnerable.

The data show a remarkable increase in cases involving minors: reports of sexual assaults with victims under 18 years of age have tripled in the last decade, from 146 in 2015 to 443 in 2025. In total, there are more than 2,900 reports over ten years involving children or adolescents.

The BTP notes that this trend is partly explained by new investigative techniques and the presence of undercover agents but stresses the need to continue promoting whistleblowing and prevention education.

The case of train conductor Nicholas McMurray, sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting an 18-year-old female passenger, has been one of the most publicised. The man, an employee of Great Western Railway, was arrested immediately after the report and placed on the sex offender registry for life. The company immediately dismissed him and reiterated its zero tolerance for any such behaviour.

The British government has announced a £17 million investment to improve video surveillance at stations and make it easier to identify suspects. The authorities hope that this measure will help speed up investigations and reduce impunity for criminals.

Police encourage both victims and witnesses to report any incident immediately, even if it may seem minor. Passengers can send a text message to the number 61016 with details of the incident, place and time.

The Rail Delivery Group, a body representing rail companies, shares this position and assures that all reports will be treated with utmost seriousness.

Despite awareness campaigns and increased surveillance, the data show that public transportation is still a place where many women and children do not feel safe. Experts in security and gender equality point out that it is necessary to combine police measures with education, awareness and training of transport workers, as well as to encourage social change that rejects any form of harassment.

Although the number of reports may reflect greater trust in the system, the reality is that thousands of passengers and minors continue to be exposed to intimidation and sexual violence. The struggle to ensure that every journey is safe and respectful remains one of the main challenges facing public transport in the UK today.

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Young children carry knives at school: an alarming reality in the UK

An investigation by BBC journalists Ruth Green, Fiona Trott and Gerry Georgieva has uncovered a disturbing situation: children as young as four and five have been discovered with knives in primary schools in England. The data obtained shows that during 2024 there were 1,304 crimes involving knives or sharp objects in schools and colleges in England and Wales.

Worryingly, at least 10% of these cases involved primary-school-aged children. According to police forces, minors as young as four, five and six years old have been found carrying bladed weapons to class – in some cases, to show them to friends and in others, with threatening intentions.

Kent police responded to an incident involving a boy as young as four who had assaulted a classmate with a knife. In the West Midlands, another six-year-old boybrought a knife to class claiming he wanted to kill another pupil. In another case, a five-year-old boy came to school with a ten-inch kitchen knife.

Although these minors are not criminally responsible, as the minimum age in the United Kingdom is ten years old, the facts have caused concern among families and education professionals.

The debate has intensified in the wake of the case of Harvey Willgoose, a teenager killed by a classmate with a hunting knife in Sheffield. His mother, Caroline Willgoose, is calling on the government to install metal detectors in all schools to prevent further tragedies.

Several British schools have already begun installing metal detection arches. In Dudley, Beacon Hill Academy has recently incorporated this type of control. Some students admit that the arch generates some trepidation, but it also makes them feel more confident.

Sales of metal detectors in schools have tripled in one year, according to data from Interconnective Security Products, which sold 35 between March 2024 and March 2025.

The British Home Office has assured that it is on a mission to halve knife crime. Among the measures announced are Ronan’s Law, which tightens rules for online knife sales, and the Young Futuresprogramme, which seeks to address the social and psychological causes of the problem.

Still, educators’ associations warn that more support for schoolsand prevention programmes are needed; a decade of cutbacks in community policing and youth projects has left many schools alone in the face of this crisis, according to Pepe Di’lasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders.

Some teenagers admit to bringing knives to school out of fear. Experts such as Trevor Chrouch, who works with at-risk youth in Sheffield, point out that many of these kids are not looking to cause harm, but to feel safe; for them, carrying a knife is as commonplace as carrying a mobile phone in their pocket.

Professionals agree that more emotional education, extracurricular activities and mediation programmes are needed to prevent these behaviours. As one teenage girl interviewed says: «They don’t teach us how to defend ourselves or manage emotions. Just science, but not how to live life».

The knife phenomenon in British schools is a reflection of a deep-seated fear among young people and an education system that needs more social and emotional support. Security measures are a necessary step, but not enough: the solution is to educate, listen and protect before it is too late.

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One mistake, one company destroyed: the cyber-attack that sank 158 years of history

One weak password. That’s all it took for a group of hackers to destroy a 158-year-old British company and put 700 people out of work.

Northamptonshire-based transport company KNP is a tragic example of how cyber-attacks can bring down even established businesses. The case reveals a disturbing reality: thousands of companies in the UK are victims of ransomware, one of the most significant cybercrime threats today.

In 2023, KNP managed a fleet of 500 lorries under the brand name Knights of Old. Despite complying with IT security standards and having insurance against cyber-attacks, the company fell victim to a group called Akira.

As Richard Bilton explains for BBC Panorama, the hackers gained access to the system by guessing an employee’s password. Once inside, they encrypted all data and locked down internal systems, leaving the company completely paralysed.

Although a figure was not specified, a firm specializing in ransomware negotiation estimated that the demand could reach £5 million. KNP was unable to pay. All data were lost. The company went bankrupt.

Richard Horne, CEO of the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC), warns that an urgent response is needed and companies must take serious steps to protect their systems and businesses.

The NCSC, which is part of GCHQ, the UK’s intelligence agency, receives reports of a major cyber attack every day. Their teams are trying to detect and stop hackers before they can deploy ransomware, but the task is daunting.

According to the UK government, there were 19,000 ransomware attacks last year. The average demand is around 4 million pounds, and approximately one third of the companies end up paying.

This type of social engineering was the method used in the case of the Marks & Spencer attack, where the attackers gained access to the systems through telephone manipulation.

According to experts, many of the new hackers start out in the gaming world and end up using their skills in cybercrime. Ransomware can be easily purchased on the dark web and is a quick way to obtain large sums of money with little risk of being caught.

The government is now proposing to prohibit public entities from paying ransomware, and to make private companies have to notify any attack and obtain permission to make any payments.

After losing his company, Paul Abbott, director of KNP, has started giving awareness talks: companies should demonstrate that they have up-to-date systems. As a kind of cyber-MOT.

Consultant Paul Cashmore, who advised KNP after the attack, agrees that this is organised crime. And very little is being done to catch the perpetrators. «It’s devastating».

Conclusion

The KNP case is a warning to all companies: a single weak password can have disastrous consequences. In an increasingly digitised environment, cybersecurity is not an option, it is a critical necessity.

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United Kingdom opts for new courts to reduce criminal recidivism

Communities affected by repeat offenders will see their protection strengthened with the expansion of a new model of specialised courts designed to reduce less serious crime and nip recidivism in the bud.

These Intensive Supervision Courts, inspired by problem-solving courts in the United States, especially in Texas, combine strict judicial follow-up with personalised support for offenders suffering from problems such as addiction or trauma.

Offenders who commit crimes such as theft while struggling with personal problems will have to attend treatment, appear regularly before a judge and comply with strict conditions. If they fail to do so, they may end up in prison.

This model, which is part of the British government’s «Blueprint for Change» seeks to transform the response to petty crime by freeing up the prison system and focusing on real rehabilitation.

Drug and alcohol addiction fuels much of the crime that occurs. Crime will not be reduced until repeat offenders actually face up to their behaviour, according to Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending.

Promising results

The first four pilot programs in Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool and Teesside have supervised more than 200 offenders. According to a recent assessment:

  • 2 out of 3 drug tests were negative.
  • Only 23% of the participants were sanctioned for misbehaviour.
  • Substance use decreased.
  • More participants with mental health problems accessed appropriate treatment.

These data point to a significant reduction in recidivism, as has already been observed in other countries using similar models, with a drop in criminal re-entries of up to 33%.

The expansion of these courts follows a record £700 million investment in the Probation Service, a 45% increase in the budget, and responds to the recommendations of the Independent Sentencing Review, led by former Justice Minister David Gauke.

During a visit to Texas, Gauke and the current Lord Chancellor saw first-hand how the expansion of problem-solving courts had reduced drug offences by 25% and decreased the prison population.

A view from the social sector

Pavan Dhaliwal, director of the NGO Revolving Doors, which works to break the cycle of crime, welcomed the expansion. These courts offer a real opportunity to address the unmet health and social needs that trap people in recidivism.

With this new approach, the United Kingdom is committed to a penal system that not only punishes, but also holds accountable, rehabilitates and sets things right. The expansion of Intensive Supervision Courts is part of a broader strategy to make the streets safer, reduce the burden on prisons and give a real second chance to those who want to change.

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The crisis in Nigeria: why police reform is key

Armed banditry has become a full-blown security crisis in Nigeria, especially in the north-west and north-central regions of the country. What began as sporadic attacks has evolved into coordinated campaigns of violence that affect entire communities.

Between 2023 and 2025, more than 10,000 people have died at the hands of armed groups in northern Nigeria, the majority being women and children. Rural life is completely disrupted: farmers kidnapped in the fields, travellers attacked on the roads, entire towns displaced. In some areas, residents even have to pay ‘taxes’ to the bandits in order to be able to harvest.

According to Onyedikachi Madueke, a PhD student in Security in Nigeria at the University of Aberdeen, this insecurity generates poverty, weakens trust in the State, and drives emigration.

Studies on banditry in Nigeria often focus on factors such as poverty, social exclusion and ungoverned territories. But an essential element is often overlooked: the lack of institutional capacity of the police.

Some conclusions from Madueke’s research clearly point to a police force with serious structural deficiencies: staff shortages, lack of funding, precarious working conditions, and an excessively centralised organization.

These deficits are not just administrative issues, but factors that foster environments in which organised violence can thrive. The conclusions are structured around four main axes.

Staff Crisis: Few Agents for Many Citizens

With 220 million inhabitants, Nigeria has 370,000 police officers. In some municipalities in the north, only 32 officers protect hundreds of thousands of people. Furthermore, up to 80% of police officers are assigned to protect politicians, businesspeople, etc. This leaves a minority available for actual police tasks.

Chronically insufficient funding

The police budget for 2024 is around $808 million, well below countries like South Africa or Egypt. Police stations do not have computers, paper, or access to the Internet. Officers use their personal mobile phones. Patrol cars lack fuel, and specialised equipment is either non-existent or obsolete.

Precarious working conditions

A junior officer may earn 44 dollars a month, insufficient to live on. They have to pay for their uniforms, medical assistance, and they live in degraded barracks, without water or electricity. The families of deceased officers often take years to receive compensation. This precariousness generates demotivation and disconnection, with serious implications for national security.

Excessively centralised structure

The Nigerian Police is controlled from Abuja, the capital, which leaves regional governments without real authority over the officers deployed in their territories. This centralised model limits rapid response, hinders community trust, and favours criminals acting with impunity in areas where the state is perceived as non-existent.

To address armed banditry, it is necessary to strengthen the police institutionally. Urgent measures should include:

  • Increasing the hiring of police officers, especially in rural areas.
  • Improving the salaries and living conditions of the officers.
  • Decentralising the police force and allowing for the creation of regional and community forces.
  • Ensuring transparency in the use of funds allocated for security, especially the Police Trust Fund.

Strengthening the police is not just a management issue: it is a fundamental step to restore trust, ensure security, and build a more stable future for Nigeria.

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