From 15 to 17 September 2026, Victim Support Europe (VSE) took part in the Victim Protection Summer School organised by CEPOL, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training, in Poland.

The training week brought together experts and police officers from Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia to strengthen knowledge, exchange experiences and explore how law enforcement can better protect and support victims of crime in everyday practice.

Throughout the week, VSE’s Training Team delivered several experiential sessions covering the EU Victims’ Rights Directive, victim support and cooperation across Europe, empathy and effective communication with victims, and victim-centred interviewing techniques.

At the heart of VSE’s approach was a central objective: turning victims’ rights into practice. Participants worked through experiential exercises, scenarios and best practices exchange to explore what victims’ rights and protection mean at the point of first contact with the police. Together, they reflected on how to identify individual needs, communicate effectively, facilitate access to support and protection, and prevent secondary victimisation.

These exchanges also created space to discuss the realities faced by law enforcement professionals. Implementing a victim-centred approach require extra care and protection, while working with limited resources and staff, time pressure and complex cases. The training therefore focused on concrete and realistic practices that can be integrated into their daily work, while encouraging participants to learn from each other and share solutions developed in their own national contexts.

One of the most powerful moments of the week came directly from the voice of a victim’s advocate. VSE welcomed online a member of its Victims’ Advocates Platform, who has transformed her lived experience into advocacy, education and action. Her contribution gave participants precious insights and good practices on cultural awareness and intercultural communication.

The week was a valuable reminder of the importance of creating spaces where professionals from different countries can exchange good practices, challenge established ways of working and develop more victim-centred responses together.

As one police officer reflected during the training: