Schengen: Draft Manual on public order
01 July 1997
The Schengen Working Group I on Police and Security has prepared a "Draft Schengen Manual on police cooperation in maintaining public order and security" with the objective of: "averting dangers to public order and security which may concern one of more Schengen State.." The draft Manual says:
Cooperation pursuant to this manual shall apply, inter alia, to events where large numbers of persons from more than one country congregate in one or more Schengen States and where the main purpose of the police presence is to maintain public order and security and prevent criminal offences. Examples of these are sports events, rock concerts, demonstrations or road blockades.
This cooperation shall not be confined to large-scale events but can also apply to the movement and activities of concentrations of persons, regardless of size, which may pose a threat to public order and security. Cooperation shall not be confined to neighbouring Schengen States, but may also take place between Schengen States which do not have a common border and Schengen States of transit.
A list of "central authorities" is to be set up and maintained who will act as the liaison points in each Schengen State. These "central authorities" are asked whether "bidden or unbidden" to send information "if circumstances arise or sizeable groups of persons that may pose a threat to public order and security move through or towards other Schengen States."
The "Checklist of information to be exchanged" is:
1. Type of occasion or event;
2. Group of persons: number;
3. Group of persons: type and composition of the group;
4. Group of persons: motivation, propensity for violence, likelihood of a disturbance;
5. Meeting places and times;
6. Routes and stops;
7. Mode of transport;
8. Other pertinent information;
9. Reliability of information.
Liaison officers from the Schengen State supplying the information can attend and work with the police of the other Schengen State and if necessary "police authorities from Schengen States concerned may, with a view to coordinating operations, set up joint command and coordination centres."
This initiative by the Schengen countries will supplement the Joint Action on cooperation in the fields of public order and safety adopted by the EU Council of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in May (see Statewatch, vol 7 no 3).
Draft Schengen Manual on police cooperation in maintaining public order and security, Working Group I on Police and Security, SCH/I(97) 36 rev. 5, 11.6.97.