Nov 22 - RGP Officer Attends Law Enforcement Network Meeting In Prague
RGP Inspector Cavallo Soane is back in Gibraltar after attending the IX edition of the OECD sponsored Law Enforcement Network (LEN) meeting that was held in Prague (Czech Republic) November 14-16.
The meeting, which was attended by members of the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN), discussed topics such as independence of prosecutors, detection of corruption and international cooperation in corruption cases.
Participants ranged from police officers to prosecutors, investigating judges and other legal experts involved in specialized anti-corruption investigations.
Inspector Soane attended the conference in his capacity as the LEN national contact point for CARIN (Camden Asset Recovery Inter-agency Network), an international organisation which focuses on disrupting criminal activity through asset tracing, freezing, seizure and confiscation of illicit proceeds. It also promotes improved cross- border and inter-agency cooperation, exchange of information and good practice in the European Union and beyond the continent.
CARIN is considered by Europol as a major law enforcement tool in targeting organised crime gangs particularly in the area of finance.
Gibraltar has been a member of CARIN since its launch in 2004.
Its informal nature affords police officers and judicial experts greater flexibility in exchanging information between jurisdictions and a valuable complement to formal, official channels when time is of the essence. This can make a difference when conducting a criminal investigations and bringing it to a successful conclusion.
Inspector Soane gave a presentation to the ACN on the value of international networks like CARIN, how it can be used and why countries should be adopting membership to access its benefits, training opportunities, general advice and guidance.
The presentation included case examples which highlighted how CARIN has been instrumental in tackling drug trafficking, money laundering, international fraud and arms trafficking amongst other serious crimes.
He said: “CARIN has already proved its worth to law enforcement and judicial agencies battling global organised crime. The fact that it is an informal network of contacts where the human element plays a key role, enhances its overall effectiveness. It was a great honour to be representing CARIN and the RG Police at this international meeting”.
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