PRECRISIS – PRotECting public spaces thRough Integrated Smarter Innovative Security

The aim of the PRECRISIS project is: To strengthen the protection of public spaces by preventing terrorist attacks and violent crimes and mitigating their impacts.
PRECRISIS will promote integrated, smarter innovative security through the empowerment of law enforcement authorities, first responders, local managers of public spaces and related security stakeholders, enhancing public-private cooperation. PRECRISIS will develop, test, and roll out innovative, sustainable, and effective AI-based digital solutions and practical toolkits, in full compliance with ethical standards and related legislation on the protection of personal data, by integrating existing expertise, best practices and privacy-by-design approaches to make public spaces more secure.

The PRECRISIS objectives are:

1. ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING
   (i) Improve vulnerability assessments for European cities by LEAs, first responders and local managers of public spaces, in collaboration with different public and private actors, to inform spatial design, urban planning, and security-by-design concepts through AI-based solutions; (ii) Developing and implementing facility or event security plans and crisis management plans as well as appointing and training contact persons responsible for the coordination and implementation of these security measures.
2. AWARENESS AND TRAINING
   (i) Enhance modelling capabilities and strategic approach of LEAs, first responders and local managers of public spaces, in collaboration with different public and private actors, for processing and combining huge amounts of data in the context of crowd protection within different urban environments, to prevent, protect against, and mitigate terrorist or criminal threats through AI-based solutions, security training programmes and security exercises;
   (ii) Raise public awareness on reporting of suspect behaviour and how to react in the case of an attack, also, to reduce the fear of terrorist attacks and violent crimes, and develop internal security awareness programmes for all relevant employees.
3. PHYSICAL PROTECTION
   (i) Harness AI-based solutions for enhancing the protection of public spaces through early threat detection of multiple environmental scenarios, which can help better-informed and timelier prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies of LEAs, first responders and local managers of public spaces, in collaboration with different public and
   private actors, to counter terrorist attacks and violent crimes; (ii) Assess security and physical protection issues from the beginning of the design process of a new facility or event, as well as access controls and barriers, whilst avoiding creating
   new vulnerabilities.
4. COOPERATION & COLLABORATION
   Strengthen cooperation and collaboration among LEAs, first responders, local managers of public spaces and further key public and private actors, by coordinating the work on the protection of public spaces at the local level and engaging in communication and good practice exchanges through the development of practical recommendations and guidance materials and the appointment of contact points on security matters.

• SAHER (Europe) OU [Estonia]
• FONDAZIONE BRUNO KESSLER [Italy] – FBK
• HOCHSCHUL FUR DEN OFFENTLICHEN DIENST IN BAYERN [Germany] – HfoD
• EUROPEAN INSTITUTE [Bulgaria] – EI
• ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS [Greece] – CERTH,
• COMUNE DI TRENTO [Italy] – MT
• CENTER FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION [Cyprus] – CSI
• JOHANNITER OSTERREICH AUSBILDUNG UND FORSCHUNG GEMEINNUTZIGE [Austria] – JOAFG
• ANAPTYXIAKI ETAIREIA EPARCHIAS LEMESOU LIMITED [Cyprus] – ANELEM