Jari Liukku , Chief of Police of the Western Uusimaa Police Department, has been appointed head of the European Serious Organised Crime Centre (ESOCC) at Europol. Liukku will take up his new position on 15 March 2017.
According to National Police Commissioner Seppo Kolehmainen, the position is important. The sector is at the core of Europol's activities in the fight against serious and organised crime, particularly in the prevention of drug-related crime and crime related to illegal weapons, and combating criminal organisations.
It provides vital support for Member States in their crime prevention efforts, by analysing information obtained, linking cases between Member States and by supporting operational activities and criminal investigations.
“In successful anti-crime operations, the efficient work of the ESOCC is of paramount importance to other Member States as well as Finland,” comments National Police Commissioner Kolehmainen.
The European Serious Organised Crime Centre is the largest of Europol's Operational Department sectors. Located in The Hague, the Netherlands, ESOCC employs 140 staff. Europol as a whole has around one thousand employees.
ESOCC’s work is based on the EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA), a report prepared by Europol at four-year intervals. Based on the report, ministers of the Member States confirm crime prevention priorities for the following years.
The ESOCC also houses a special function for the prevention of human trafficking, which has increased due to the immigration crisis. Expertise on this criminal phenomenon and operational support for Member States is centralised in ESOCC,
which is tasked with supporting Member States in operations and the exchange of information, in creating situational awareness and in strategic work related to serious and organised crime. Support functions also include operational meetings funded by Europol.
Chief of Police Liukku holds the degree of Master of Laws. He became Chief of Police of the Western Uusimaa Police Department on 1 May 2010. His prior positions include Deputy Police Chief at Helsinki Police Department and Deputy Chief at the Central Bureau of Investigation.
In addition, Jari Liukku has a wealth of experience of international duties in various EU and other international projects.
