Policing in Europe: An Ethnographic Approach to Understanding the Nature of Cooperation and the Gap between Policy and Practice

Over the last two decades, there have been significant developments concerning transnational police and judicial cooperation, with the creation of relatively new tools of cooperation such as the European Judicial Network, the Centres for Police and Customs Cooperation, Europol and Eurojust. However, cooperation at the level of negotiations means nothing if these structures, agencies and networks are not appropriately translated into practice in the field. Therefore, this article aims to explore the gap between policies agreed at a macro-level and the work undertaken in practice within the context of police and judicial cooperation in Europe. In particular, it will examine a variety of factors arising from the empirical research undertaken in four European countries and relevant institutions, which comprise of, amongst others, the political priorities and influence and the need to adapt the law to practice.