In the context of the attacks on Paris on 12 November, Rob Wainwright (Director, Europol) will speak on Europol's Response to the Jihadist Threat. Details of the talk can be found here.
Europol provides the platform for cooperation between law enforcement agencies in 40 countries and offers analysis and investigative support in thousands of serious organised crime and terrorism cases each year. In 2013, Europol launched the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) which has quickly become a key partner for major cybercrime investigations, complementing Europol’s existing capabilities. This operational role in supporting major organised crime, terrorist and cybercrime investigations gives Europol a unique insight into the latest trends and emerging threats, allowing Europol to provide analysis and recommendations to ministers and police chiefs.
At Oxford on Wednesday 25 November, Rob Wainwright will draw on his experience of leading Europol since 2009 to reflect on the evolution of organised crime, terrorist and cyber threats and the challenges they pose. In the wake of the horrific attacks in Paris on 13 November, Mr Wainwright will share some of the latest thinking about the jihadist threat and how to tackle it at law enforcement level.
Whereas terrorist groups deliberately seek to grab the headlines, organised crime groups prefer to operate below the radar, posing a less sensational threat but causing significant harm on a continuous basis. Traditional crime moving online will also be discussed, as well as the various linkages between organised crime, cybercrime and terrorism.
Having graduated in 1989 from the London School of Economics, University of London with a BSc, Mr Wainwright spent ten years as an intelligence analyst in the UK in the fields of counter-terrorism and organised crime. Between 2000 and 2003, Mr. he was the Head of the UK Liaison Bureau at Europol, and also responsible for the Europol National Unit in London. The Liaison Bureaux are a key link in Europol’s cooperation with the EU member
states.
In 2003, he was promoted to the position of Director International of the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), where he was responsible for its international operations and for developing and implementing the UK strategy against facilitated illegal immigration. Between 2006 and 2009, he was Chief of the International Department of the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). In this leading role, he was overseeing 20,000 law enforcement cases each year as well as establishing the international strategy and operational capabilities of the newly formed agency. His mandate extended from SOCA’s international operations and global partnerships to the
worldwide network of SOCA liaison officers.
Mr Wainwright was appointed Director of Europol in April 2009. He is also currently an active member of the World Economic Forum, primarily on cyber issues.
