The New York Police Department (NYPD) developed the NYPD SHIELD project following the attacks of September 11, 2001. Many US police forces appraised this innovative project and began developing SHIELD networks throughout the United States.
In 2018, the SHIELD network made the leap to Europe by incorporating the Antwerp Police, with the intention of expanding across the continent. The Basque police is the second European member of the SHIELD network since 2020 as a result of the special relationship between the Belgian police force and Ertzaintza. In the future, both police forces will work together to achieve the incorporation of other police officers in Europe
There are currently 18 police forces with SHIELD projects implemented. Among them there is an agreement to establish a Global SHIELD Network, whose advantages, among others, are the exchange of publications, reports and analysis between the different forces involved. The Global Shield Network coordinates monthly meetings with project managers of all participating police forces.
Thanks to the Global SHIELD Network, a network is created between police forces, which in turn maintain their own network with members of their community. As a result, the information can be shared with the various police forces and it is possible to obtain useful information for Euskadi and disseminate it to the members of Ertzaintza SHIELD.
Every year, a global SHIELD congress is organized. Last year the meeting took place on November 20, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland (US). On the occasion of the annual anniversary of Antwerp SHIELD, a congress was organized on October 3rd, 2019 to strengthen the cooperation between the Antwerp public-private sector and to initiate the brand-new website.