DEWHA hosts meeting to further efforts in combating international environmental crime
On Thursday, 28 January 2010, the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), in partnership with Interpol Canberra, held an Australian Government Inter-Agency meeting to enhance international coordination and support for Environmental Enforcement.
The meeting included presentations by:
• Grant Pink – DEWHA,
• Rob Blount – Interpol: Australia’s National Central Bureau (a part of the Australian Federal Police), and
• David Higgins – DEWHA*
The Presentations covered various aspects associated with; engagement, participation, liaison and the resourcing of international enforcement of environmental crime.
Overall, some 30 representatives attended from the following 12 Australian Government (Federal) Agencies:
• AUSTRAC,
• Australian Competition & Consumer Commission,
• Australian Customs and Border Protection Service,
• Australian Federal Police,
• Australian Fisheries Management Authority,
• Australian Maritime Safety Authority,
• Australian Quarantine Inspection Service,
• Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions,
• Dept. of Agriculture Fisheries and Forests,
• Dept. of Climate Change,
• DEWHA, and
• Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.
The meeting generated a great deal of discussion and interest amongst participants and it was considered an excellent forum to discuss international environmental crime. Specifically the cross-over aspects of crime were numerous and the group resolved to meet again to progress common areas of interest which included; investigations, intelligence, together with operational and strategic planning of enforcement activities.
*Nb: David has since returned to continue his post as Manager of Interpol’s Environmental Crime Programme in Lyon FRANCE.
For further information on Interpol’s Environmental Crimes Programme, please either see: http://www.interpol.int/Public/EnvironmentalCrime/Default.asp or contact David at: D.HIGGINS@interpol.int
Point of contact:
Rose Webb
Australian Government Jurisdictional Representative - AELERT