1. SOMEC What is it? Why is it important?
Penny Barker, SOMEC Project Director
The Hague, November 2014

2. What is SOMEC? SOMEC means:
Serious Offending by Mobile European Criminals
An EU funded project (DG Home)
Four partner countries:
Catalonia (Spain)
Latvia
The Netherlands
United Kingdom
January 2013 – January 2015

3. SOMEC Project Origins
high profile cases occurring in Member States (MS), committed by individuals who were nationals from another EU MS.
In their home MS they were known serious violent or sexual offenders but information about them was not known in the MS they had moved to.

4. Victims 1) Moira Jones 2) Jolanta Bledaite
Murdered in Glasgow in 2008 by a Slovakian man who had 13 previous convictions (4 for violence).
2) Jolanta Bledaite
Murdered in Scotland in 2001 by two men, from Lithuania who had previous convictions for violence.

5. High Profile Case 3) Robert M Latvian born – moved to Germany to work
2003 – worked in a kindergarten in Heidleberg, caught distributing child pornography
received a conditional sentence for 1 year with 3 years parole
2004 – moved to Amsterdam, married and later became a Dutch citizen
2007 – started working at several kindergartens and as a babysitter
2010 – confessed to abuse of 83 young children but only charged for 67
2012 – Judgement was given and he was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment

6. High Profile Case 4) Andrezej Kunowski (Polish)
1973: 17 rapes and 8 attempted rapes
1995: arrested for raping 11 year old girl. Bailed and disappeared.
1996: arrived in UK on forged Portuguese passport
May 1997: raped and murdered 12 year old girl
June 1997: arrested for theft and detained following asylum application. Appeal dismissed and disappeared.
2002: chocked & raped 21 year old woman
2003: jailed for 9 years
2004: jailed for life for the 1997 offence

7. High Profile Case 5) ‘X’ (Italian)
Marries woman in UK and has children
Marriage fails due to violent behaviour and ‘X’ is imprisoned. Court orders to prevent him having contact with wife or children
‘X’ applies to return to Italy and forms new relationship with a woman who has children
Offender Management support return home BUT have duty of care to potential victims
Risk assessment shows likely to re-offend
Offender Management & Law Enforcement ensure all relevant information provided to home state to manage risk and prevent future victims

8. Values and Beliefs
European Convention on Human Rights – to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms
Belief that every European Citizen has the right to be safe and that their state will do all it can to protect them
Belief that within the European Union citizens have a right of freedom of movement across EU MS borders.

9. Question
How do we provide information to another Member States when a citizen moves across a border and we know they are a serious sexual or violent offender?

10. SOMEC Project Objectives
There are three objectives:
Provide an assessment of the threat posed to all European Citizens when serious sexual or violent offenders travel between EU Member States.
Identify the methods and the effectiveness of mechanisms used by member states in the management of serious violent or sexual offenders travelling across borders.
Explore critical success factors and provide recommendations to facilitate the improved exchange of information for the prevention of crime.

11. SOMEC Project Outputs Scope of the Problem Report
Literature Review of existing information exchange systems
Comparative Field Report – with good practice & recommendations
Effective Practice Review – what works with sexual and violent offenders
Guidance Manuals (Offender Manager & Law Enforcement)

12. SOMEC Offender & Offences
A person who has committed, been found guilty of one or more specified sexual or violent offences and have served / are serving a sentence for those offence(s).
Serious Violent offences include:
Intentional killing; Aggravated case of Intentional Killing; Unintentional Killing; Violence causing death, causing grievous bodily injury, disfigurement or permanent disability or torture.
Serious sexual offences include:
Rape; aggravated rape other than a minor, sexual assault, Rape of a minor, Sexual assault of a minor

13. Scope of the Problem
Phase 1 research by National Offender Management Service, UK
Overview of Research:
Questionnaire sent to all EU member states
Contacts found via CEP or ECRIS
Information requested on prison population (2011)
Risk assessment not possible at this stage
Overview of scale of problem

14. Scope of the Problem Response to date:
Responses from 17 EU member states so far, 13 were full
12 of these 13 countries held citizens of other EU countries in their prisons who had been convicted of serious sexual or violent offence (2011)
For the 13 the overall number of EU citizens imprisoned across other EU MS for serious offence is over 2000
4 had a greater proportion of prisoners convicted for the serious offences from the other EU MS than countries outside the EU

15. The ‘Critical Few’
There are only a small number of serious violent and sexual offenders moving across borders BUT the impact of their behaviour is great.
We need to work together to ensure we reduce their ability to harm and to prevent the next victim.

16. The Conference Will cover:
An overview of the work with member states, the emerging findings and an understanding of the differences between member states
An opportunity for all participants to consider the recommendations, provide feedback to the project and identify possible solutions
An opportunity for us to share experiences and to understand the significant impact this small group of offenders have upon their victims and victim families

17. Where can I find more information?
SOMEC website:

18. SOMEC As the Project Director I have:
Learnt a great deal and have a better informed understanding of the differences and similarities we have across member states;
been immensely impressed by how colleagues work together to manage individuals who move to prevent harmful behaviour occurring;
A strong commitment to ensure that the outcomes from this project are of use to all in the law enforcement and offender management agencies.

19. Penny Barker, SOMEC Project Director