According to a recent report by the Finnish National Group for Monitoring of Environmental Offences, the number of environmental offences reported to the pre-trial investigation authorities has remained more or less unchanged in recent years, at about 2,500 cases each year.
Environmental offences refer to illegal practices that affect human health and safety, our living environment, nature, and animals.
“Environmental crime is typically motivated by the pursuit of financial gain and the desire to minimise the costs arising from environmental protection measures,” explains Chief Superintendent Arto Hankilanoja from the National Police Board. Hankilanoja is the chairman of the Finnish National Group for Monitoring of Environmental Offences.
According to Hankilanoja, nature and the environment have become increasingly important social values in recent years. Last year, the first strategy and action plan for the prevention of environmental crime were prepared; scientific research has produced additional information and legislation; and new forms of collaboration between the authorities have been developed.
“Our legislation now includes new aggravated forms of offences, and various supervisory and investigative authorities have entered into closer cooperation through regional collaboration networks,” Hankilanoja says.
The vast majority of environmental offences are never reported to the authorities, which is why measures to increase the risk of getting caught are a key area that the authorities are developing.
“Measures taken to increase the risk of getting caught include adopting an intelligence-led approach in the authorities’ work, gaining a better understanding of the current environmental crime situation, and adopting more systematic preventive actions,” Hankilanoja says.
The environmental crime report (in Finnish only))
