About CIROC

CIROC aims to make a leading contribution, both in the Netherlands and internationally, to the exchange of information on current developments and trends in organised crime. It sees itself as a network builder: in the Netherlands, CIROC seeks to build a bridge between the science of criminology and the practice of investigation, prosecution and trial. At the international level, it expands and strengthens professional networks in its area of expertise.

 

CIROC works for and with different target groups. At the international level, these groups are mainly researchers and research institutions, government bodies, non-governmental organisations (ngo's), the European Commission, the United Nations and agencies charged with investigation, prosecution and trial. In the Netherlands, CIROC focuses mainly on researchers and research institutes, the central government, the Public Prosecution Service, investigating authorities, the judiciary and the relevant professions.

 

CIROC gathers, compiles and provides access to knowledge for different target groups. By doing so, it intends not only to cross geographical borders, but also to bridge the gap between research and practice. This greatly enhances the social relevance of the research.

 

Broadly speaking, the activities of CIROC can be divided into four categories.

  • Provision of information on organised crime abroad: CIROC makes information on organised crime abroad and the fight against it accessible to the Dutch language area. The information is provided on the Dutch website and through the Dutch newsletters.
  • Provision of information on organised crime in the Netherlands: CIROC publishes information on organised crime in the Netherlands and the fight against it on this website and in English newsletters. The information is obtained from own research and from research conducted by other institutes in the Dutch language area.
  • Production of knowledge about organised crime in the Netherlands and elsewhere: the criminology departments of the participating universities conduct research on organised crime in the Netherlands and abroad and the fight against it in the form of study of literature and empirical research. Organised crime is being researched by other universities and research centers as well. CIROC is an important channel for dissemination of the knowledge obtained through research.
  • Transfer of knowledge from theory to practice and vice versa: one of the ways in which the transfer of knowledge from theory to practice and vice versa is arranged at CIROC is by means of seminars that are organised three or four times a year in Rotterdam.