Europol’s annual photo competition has been encouraging law enforcement colleagues across the EU and beyond to share their photographic highlights with us since its launch in 2009.
Entries come from a wide variety of law enforcement agencies, such as police, customs, border guards and security services, and each year a growing number of talented photographers submit striking and artistic images from their work places.
A selection of these images can be seen in Europol publications, most notably Making Europe safer, and on display at Europol headquarters in The Hague.
The competition is open to professional and amateur photographers working for law enforcement agencies and law enforcement magazines in EU countries and those with Europol Agreements.
This has brought remarkable entries from as far afield as Australia and Colombia, in addition to more familiar European law enforcement scenes.
Every year, the winners of the photo competition receive a trip for two to the Netherlands to visit Europol’s headquarters. The winning photos are also added to Europol’s permanent art collection, which is regularly exhibited in our HQ.
Winners of the 2024 law enforcement photo competition
The Europol Liaison Network’s Vote went to Sergio Chicharro from Spain for his submission showing officers of the Spanish National Police inspecting a tunnel. This image was the favourite of the 300 liaison officers from around the world, representing both EU Member States and Third Parties in the Europol headquarters in The Hague.
Connie Maria Westergaard from Denmark entered the favourite picture of the Heads of Communication of the European law enforcement authorities, who were asked to cast their vote during the annual “European Law Enforcement Communicators Conference”. Her winning image shows a German Shepherd puppy and his handler from the Danish National Police training together in the snow. A frequent entrant in the competition, Connie also won the Public Vote in the 2023 edition of Europol’s photo competition.
The Public Vote was awarded to Sara Teixeira from Portugal with her portrait of a motorcycle officer of the Public Security Police giving a ride to a “Careto”, a traditional Portuguese figure that emerges during carnival. Her photograph received the most votes in the online ballot advertised on our social media channels, which was open to anyone who wanted to participate.
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