EC3 hosts first international Project VIC meeting

On 14 and 15 September 2015, Europol's European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) hosted the first international Project VIC meeting at its headquarters. 60 law enforcement officers and representatives from the private sector and non-governmental organisations gathered in The Hague to share knowledge and best practices, and strengthen the network of practitioners fighting child sexual exploitation.

Project VIC is an initiative coordinated by the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, child protection NGOs and the computer forensic industry, which promotes a Victim Centric approach to investigations in the area of child sexual exploitation. By leveraging technology, Project VIC aims to reduce the workload of forensic investigators and facilitate their work in identifying the victims of child sexual exploitation.

EC3 recognises the importance of such an approach in fighting the crime of child sexual exploitation, and was pleased to support this initiative by providing a venue for the Project VIC first international meeting. Its success should pave the way for further international cooperation of this type in the future.