The COVID-19 pandemic has forced national governments and the EU to enact various measures to limit the spread of the outbreak, to support public health systems, to safeguard the economy and to ensure public order and safety. A number of these measures have a significant impact on the serious and organised crime landscape as well as the threat from violent extremists. To understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the internal security of the EU, it is crucial to identify the factors that prompt changes in crime and terrorism.
Building upon information provided by EU Member States and in-house expertise, Europol has published today a situational report analysing the current developments which fall into four main crime areas: cybercrime, fraud, counterfeit and substandard goods and organized property crime.