Integrated Approach to Criminal Youth Networks in a Digitalising Society

Traditionally, the approach to criminal youth networks has been coordinated by municipalities, in cooperation with the police, the Public Prosecution Service, and care and support organisations (collectively referred to as safety partners). Safety partners active in the northern Netherlands indicate that they are increasingly losing sight of such networks. In practice, this has led to a strong reliance on (experts from) the police, while the police alone cannot effectively combat cybercriminal networks. An integrated approach is therefore necessary, aimed both at gaining insight into cybercriminal youth networks and at addressing them in a coordinated manner.

Objective

This research aims to provide local safety partners with practical tools to jointly gain insight into cybercriminal youth networks and to explore options for an integrated approach. However, the study is explicitly more than a snapshot in time. Based on the insights gained, a methodology will be developed in collaboration with the consortium that enables other local safety coalitions to identify cybercriminal youth networks as well. This includes a clearly defined workflow and associated instruments for data collection (such as queries and questionnaires). In addition, practical guidelines for an integrated approach to cybercriminal youth networks will be developed for use by other safety coalitions. As a result, the research will have a sustainable impact on (policing) practice, and its outcomes will be relevant beyond the northern Netherlands.

Research questions

Municipalities play a coordinating role in addressing criminal youth networks. The impetus for this research lies in the fact that they currently have little to no insight into the cybercriminal activities of youth networks. Previous research into cybercriminal networks shows that many of these networks also engage in traditional criminal activities and are already known to actors within the safety and security chain. At the same time, there are networks that focus primarily on cybercrime and are likely to be currently unknown or less visible.

This research follows two tracks:

• Track 1: Gaining insight into the cybercriminal activities of youth networks already known to local safety coalitions.
• Track 2: Gaining insight into the cybercriminal activities of previously unknown youth networks.

Insight into cybercriminal youth networks is a prerequisite for effective intervention. Once such insight has been established, the logical next step is to explore the possibilities for an (integrated) approach. Track 3 therefore focuses on developing practical guidelines for an integrated approach.

Project duration

May 2022 – December 2025

Consortium partners

This project is carried out by a consortium consisting of the municipalities of Leeuwarden, Groningen, and Smallingerland; the Regional Information and Expertise Centre Northern Netherlands; the Police; the Public Prosecution Service; the COIN Association; and the Dutch Banking Association.

The research is funded by Police and Science.

Contact (Centre of Expertise Cyber Security): Joeri Loggen – [email protected]