The project is a 5-year action that addresses various aspects and thematic areas of cyber-related crime. The network forges partnerships between practitioners from across Europe (and beyond), to contribute to different activities that support Europe's response to cyber-related crime, including CSEA.

The project is structured around distinct work packages that combine to create a unique action that addresses LEAs’ challenges, including the related standards, technologies, legal aspects and community and communication struggles that influence law enforcements’ response to tackling cybercrime.

One of the many areas where the project is focused is CSEA, and the European Commission requested the project to address the topic through a dedicated practitioners' workshop and subsequent research to help elicit practitioners' gaps, needs and priorities for dealing with cyber-enabled CSEA. This work covers many aspects, from reviewing the connected standards, regulations and risk assessments that influence policing, to researching the tools, technologies and solutions available to LEAs and the capabilities, levels of training and understanding of the phenomenon. The work will begin in 2024.

The CYCLOPES project includes a multi-disciplinary consortium of experts spanning Law Enforcement, academia, industry, civil society and the legal domain. The project also benefits from the established synergies, partnerships and agreements forged over recent years. Here, it’s crucial to point to the European Judicial Cybercrime Network (EJCN), who brings expert judges and prosecutors to the CYCLOPES network. Their participation enhances the exchange of best practice and legal expertise, including expertise in relevant national case law. Another strong synergy is with the EUROPOL Innovation Lab, who actively contributes to all the practitioner workshops and related events and activities.

The CYCLOPES project is connected across all of Europe and has cooperated with LEAs from several other counties worldwide.