The exchange of information is one of the main tasks of the Central Information Point for Sports Operations (ZIS), which is assigned to the State Office for Central Police Services NRW (LZPD NRW). The ZIS ensures that the police station responsible for a match venue has all the background information known to the police in order to ensure the safety of spectators with the appropriate deployment of personnel. Not only in the stadiums, but also in their surroundings and on the arrival and departure routes.
CIS achieves this goal both at home and abroad through constant, close contact and exchange with the venue authorities. During UEFA EURO 2024, it will also use the connections it has built up over the years with its international partner authorities. As German soccer clubs are regularly active in international competitions, there are close contacts in other European countries, which will be particularly helpful during the European Football Championship.
International cooperation in Neuss
The UEFA EURO 2024 offers the CIS the opportunity for a personal exchange with colleagues from other nations. The participating countries, our European neighbors and other organizations and authorities are sending delegations to North Rhine-Westphalia for the duration of the tournament. Several hundred police officers from all over Europe will work together there under the umbrella of the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC ) 2024.
The timely exchange of verified and accurate information is essential for improving security and preventing violence and disturbances in connection with soccer matches. The IPCC 2024 has the task of collecting, evaluating and managing all police information relevant to the UEFA EURO 2024 matches in Germany and thus ensuring the best possible nationwide exchange of police information.
IPCC 2024 coordinates the international delegation forces
The IPCC 2024 will also coordinate the nationwide deployment of the international delegation forces that will be working at the venues. They will support the district police authorities with their knowledge of fans and troublemakers and their language skills.
The IPCC 2024 is not a permanent facility or police station. It will be set up for the duration of the tournament and will operate around the clock. The establishment of such an "information hub" has already proven its worth at other tournaments. Most recently, German police officers were deployed at the UEFA EURO at the IPCC in The Hague in 2021 and at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
The tasks of the Central Information Point for Sports Operations at a glance
Duties in Germany:
- Collection, evaluation, processing and management of event-related information at sporting events, in particular soccer matches, such as ticket sales figures, numbers and admissions: Ticket sales figures, number and classification of home and visiting fans, travel routes
- Exchange of information with the state information offices, the sports operations information office of the Federal Police Headquarters and scene knowledge officers (SKB) of the police forces in the federal territory
- Coordination of SKB at international club and cup matches in Germany and abroad
- Creation and complete/timely forwarding of accurate advance information and overall progress documentation sports events, in particular for soccer matches
- Inquiries, data maintenance, quality assurance and the legal framework of the "Violent Offenders in Sport File"
- Production of the "Annual Football Report"
- Involvement in committees and advice on projects to improve security at sporting events
Tasks abroad:
- Continuous contact with partner services (National Football Information Point, or: NFIP) abroad
- Collection, evaluation, processing and management of event-related information on the respective sporting events
- Counterpart operational support for foreign police authorities at international soccer matches, in particular at soccer matches involving the German national team
- Coordination and management of the SKB-TEAM Germany at international matches involving the German national team
- Involvement in and updating of the European handbook with recommendations for international cooperation and measures to prevent and combat violence and disturbances in connection with soccer matches with an international dimension