Radicalisation leading to violent extremism continues to be a global threat, as we have, unfortunately, witnessed from the recent terrorist attacks in Nice and Vienna. Furthermore, it is a fact that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a rise of radicalisation, mainly due to the increase of online activity and the isolation of individuals, making them more vulnerable to extremist groups, who have spread their propaganda and appealed to sympathisers to commit attacks.
Radicalisation prevention is still a priority area for both the European Union and the Council of Europe, which have been acting upon it while respecting human rights and allowing citizens to live in an area of freedom, security and justice.
These points are among the objectives of the EU-CoE project ´HELP Radicalisation Prevention, Judicial Response to Terrorism and International Cooperation in Criminal Matters´ in partnership with the Confederation of European Probation (CEP). This two-year project allows probation staff (along with other criminal justice practitioners) in the EU to benefit from the exchange of experiences in cross-border-multi-country and multi-agency events, which in light of COVID restrictions are successfully being held online. As well as benefiting from capacity building tools by taking the HELP course on Radicalisation Prevention, a free and flexible training tailor-made to meet CEP participants’ specific needs.
For further information, please visit: https://www.coe.int/en/web/help/help-radicalisation-prevention1
Eva Massa Arranz
Project Coordinator
Council of Europe
Keep up to date with the latest developments, stories, and updates on probation from across Europe and beyond. Find relevant news and insights shaping the field today.
Interventions Alliance has published a new evaluation of a Hub coordinated on behalf of police forces in the south of England, focused on tackling violence against women and children through a whole family approach. The Hub supports victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse and works across policing, health and social services.
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From 18-20 November 2025, 15th Plenary Meeting of the Council for Penological Co-operation took part in Council of Europe, Strasbourg. CEP was represented by President Annie Devos, Vice-Presidents Danijela Mrhar Prelic (PC-CP member) and Daniel Danglades and Secretary General Jana Spero Kamenjarin.
The CEP Expert Group on Mental Health met on 19 November 2025 to continue its work on developing a European mental health training curriculum for probation officers. Since last year, the group has been working intensively and meticulously to produce a solid first version of the curriculum.
CEP has released the first cross-European study examining stress, burnout, and morale among probation staff. The report was produced by Professor Charlie Brooker, Professor Karen Tocque, Professor Ioan Durnescu and Liliana Lupsica, whose combined expertise in public health, criminology, and organisational analysis provides an important contribution to our understanding of well-being in probation work.
