High Tech Crime Centre

Overview
The High Tech Crime Centre (HTCC) was established at Europol in 2002. The HTCC plays a major role in coordination, operational support, strategic analysis and training.


 * Coordination. The Centre assumes a coordinating role on behalf of the Member States to ensure the widest possible harmonisation of law enforcement efforts within the high-tech crime areas, under best practices, research and development, expert groups, and communication platform.
 * Investigation support. Thanks to technically skilled staff, the Centre supports ongoing cases in the area of internet and forensic investigations in which a high level of expertise is required. The HTCC offers its expertise in response to internal requests from other operational units at Europol or national authorities in the Member States.
 * Strategic analysis. The Centre monitors, researches and records all developments which could have a future bearing on high-tech crime, offering expertise to contribute to the Europol Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA) in order to create specific High Tech Crimes Threat Assessment and supplying advice to Member States on what measures to take to tackle these emerging threats.
 * Training. Being active in all of the areas described above the HTCC identifies new requirements, operational shortcomings and associated training needs.