Germany: Traffic Police and Chemical Waste. The German Traffic Police stop and check heavy-goods vehicles using a risk-based targeting approach and regularly found leaking barrels of battery acid or other hazardous substances. Although the waste is temporarily confiscated to address the immediate danger, the case reports are rarely accepted for prosecution by criminal police units or the public prosecutor agency because, as noted by EnviCrimeNet, the incident is not a priority within those institutions. The lack of coordination, of consistent priorities across agencies, and of a mandate to target and prioritize such crimes create an enforcement gap. Indonesia: Satellite Data and Illegal Logging. Indonesia established a satellite mapping program to gather information intended to help improve detection of illegal logging over large areas that are difficult to patrol on a regular basis. However, it was reported that between 2002 and 2003, no legal cases were initiated because the satellite images and analysis of the images were never provided to forest law enforcement or the prosecutor’s office. Formalizing procedures for the exchange of information is an essential and cost-effective step to promote stronger enforcement. In both instances, simple increased coordination among agencies could result in significant increases in fighting environment-related crimes.
Country
Germany
Indonesia