Mobile communications challenges to cross-border tracking operations carried out by law enforcement authorities

Organised crime is a real cross-border threat with the emergence of international warehouses of crime. For improving their evidence-gathering abilities, law enforcement authorities (LEAs) are constantly seeking new technological recording, retrieving and monitoring solutions that would facilitate their combat against criminal organisations. The criminals' counter measure activities, such as electronic counter-surveillance, jamming and constant changes in behaviour for preventing eavesdropping or physical surveillance are continuously increasing. The pressure to find new intelligent technologies, which are harder to detect, more strongly encrypted, longer-lasting, quicker to install and more adaptive, is emerging and is a high-priority task. The aim of this study is to provide an improved understanding of the structural characteristics and the dynamic evolution of mobile communication challenges to cross-border satellite-based tracking operations carried out by LEAs. The study is based on the results and lessons learned from the SATERISK research project executed 2008-2011. The study results will be exploited in the ongoing 2.5 years research project Multi-Agency Cooperation In Cross-border Operations (MACICO).