Last week, on 14 February, the last experience exchange and training visit in the field of environmental crime took place in cooperation with the Norwegian National Authority for the Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (ØKOKRIM). Starting from 30 May 2023, training visits took place almost every month within the framework of the Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 Programme “International Police Cooperation and Combatting Crime”, Project No. EEZ/VP/2020/1 “Support to the State Police for Acceleration and Quality Improvement of Investigation of Economic Crimes in Latvia”.
The aim of the training visits was to prevent and combat economic crimes in the field of environment and to strengthen mutual cooperation with ØKOKRIM. The Latvian delegation was represented by several officials from the State Police, State Environmental Service, Nature Conservation Agency, Public Prosecution Office of the Republic of Latvia and the State Border Guard. This activity was organized as a pilot project with a view to developing future cooperation between all Baltic States and Norway.
Each visit highlighted a different topic related to environmental crime, including illegal waste disposal, exploitation and management, environmental pollution, damage to natural resources, animal welfare crimes, fisheries and aquaculture crimes. Five of the visits took place at ØKOKRIM headquarters in Norway, giving our delegates the opportunity to see and learn about the methods and approaches to criminal investigations that have been developed in other countries.
The activity concluded with a visit of the Norwegian representatives to Latvia, during which the results and conclusions of the project were discussed. The participants praised the relevance of the project and particularly appreciated the opportunity to improve mutual communication not only with ØKOKRIM representatives but also with local institutions. The competences, capacities and possible solutions to difficult situations of the different departments were presented, which will help to develop solution-oriented communication. The overall conclusion was that environmental crime is not only related to pollution and environmental damage, but also to the informal economy and illegal income, which cause a large loss to the State budget.
Experience exchange visits was organized within the framework of the European Economic area grant 2014-2021 programme “International Police Cooperation and Combating Crime” project No.EEZ/VP/2020/1 “Support to the State Police for increasing effectiveness and quality of economic crime investigation in Latvia”(more information: www.eeagrants.lv)
