POLICE-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FIELD OPERATIONS SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE and Principality of Monaco organized this conference together with the support of UNODC and INTERPOL. In April, the Mission supported the PA in organizing a regional workshop on secret surveillance measures, including the use of evidence in courts and cross-border co-operation. The aim was to improve the present situation, especially in the area of undercover operations. The workshop was conducted for personnel from the State Prosecutor’s Office, Criminal Police and judiciary to enhance the professionalism of law enforcement officials, given that European standards require the implementation of special investigative means subject to a court’s overall supervision. Trafficking in Human Beings and Migration-Related Crime The Mission supported the drafting of the National Strategy for the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2018 by engaging local experts. As a result, in February 2015, the Action Plan for implementing the National Strategy for the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings for 2015-2016 was drafted by the Government of Montenegro, Office of the National Co-ordinator for the Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings (NOFTHB) together with a working group and representatives from the Mission. From May to October, the Mission supported the organization of the second cycle of field trainings on the local level, entitled “Fight against Trafficking in Human Beings”, for front line border police officers in the municipalities of Tivat, Herceg Novi, Bar, Niksic, and Pljevlja. The trainings were developed by FRONTEX, conducted by 2 national trainers, and organized in co-operation with the NOFTHB and the Border Police of Montenegro. They aimed at enhancing law enforcement capacities in preventing and combating THB and providing support to THB victims. From 25-26 May, the Mission supported the participation of local experts in the OSCE Annual Police Experts Meeting on “Fighting Organized Crime in the OSCE Area with a Focus on Trafficking in Human Beings and Irregular Migration” held in Belgrade. The objective of the meeting was to provide a platform for national authorities to exchange views, and to improve multi-agency co-operation to respond to organized crime and trafficking in human beings linked to irregular migration in the OSCE area. Montenegrin representatives of the Police Directorate, the NOFTHB, and the Mission participated in the meeting. From 17-20 June, the Mission supported a three-day study visit to Budapest for officials from the NOFTHB, the PD’s crime and border police, and the High Court of Podgorica. The visit was organized in co-operation with the Hungarian MoI as part of a project on strengthening the capacities and accountability of security sector agencies. The project aimed to promote the exchange of good practices and discuss lessons learned in combating THB. From 26-27 October, the OMiM conducted a seminar, entitled “The Media’s Role in the Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings”, in co-operation with the NOFTHB. It focused on media reporting of human trafficking cases, with particular emphasis on the use of non-discriminatory language and the direct impact of news reports on victims of trafficking. The seminar served as a platform to exchange experiences, to acquire new skills, to develop a strategy to promote the issue, and to endorse co-operation among institutions and the media. Government representatives from rule of law and law enforcement institutions as well as representatives of the media, the NGO sector, and the OSCE OSR/CTHB attended the event. On 23 December, the Mission, jointly with the OSCE Presence in Albania (OPiA), organized the first roundtable of NOFTHB to provide conditions for efficiently and successfully implementing the Protocol on co-operation in the fight against human trafficking. The Protocol, which was signed in 2014 with the support of the Mission, aims at improving the identification, reporting, referral, co-operation in criminal matters, and voluntary return of victims and potential victims of trafficking. Cybercrime From 7-11 December, the Mission organized and assessed the PD’s capabilities to combat cybercrime. Two international IT police experts conducted the assessment aimed at supporting the Directorate’s efforts to improve the capacity in analysing information gathered by criminal investigations, intelligence and forensics, and sharing it with decision makers, investigators, prosecutors, and judges. The IT experts met with members of the Cybercrime Unit, Forensic Centre (FC), the Special Verification Unit, and the Special Prosecutor’s Office on Corruption and Organized Crime to develop training on web tools and software in data analysis. Border Security and Management / Customs On 9 July and 22 October, the Mission and OPiA facilitated joint cross-border co-ordination meetings between respective delegations of the Montenegrin and Albanian border police. The meeting in July was held in Ulcinj, Montenegro, while the meeting in October was held in Shqoder, Albania. The meetings resulted in discussions on existing agreements, particularly concerning joint patrols, risk analyses and illegal migration. 69