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For Africa
Environmental News |
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50 "Green Scorpions"
Complete Forensics Training To Increase Convictions For
Environmental Crimes |
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Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
THURSDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2006: As part of a concerted
effort to improve the capacity of the Environmental
Management inspectors to deal with environmental crimes,
a team of "green scorpions" undertook the first
environmental forensics training course from 23 to 26
October 2006 held at
Magoebaskloof, in Limpopo "The intensive forensic
awareness course designed for Green Scorpions will
result in enhanced investigation and prosecution of
environmental crimes in South Africa," said Blessing
Manale, Spokesperson for the Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), on the conclusion of four
days of forensic training.
The training initiative is a joint project between the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT),
the South African Police Services Forensics Laboratory
and the Environment Agency of England and Wales.
The course looked at the principles of forensic evidence
collection, analysis and admission in court, while also
focusing on specific forensic areas pertaining to the
EMI function. "For instance, 'wildlife forensics'
aimed to empower inspectors on the techniques of
catching and prosecuting poachers and smugglers of
endangered species. EMIs have also been schooled in the
art of tracing dumped hazardous materials and waste in
terms of 'pollution forensics'," explained Manale.
Popularly referred to as the "Green Scorpions,"
Environmental Management Inspectors (EMI) are
responsible for monitoring compliance with and
enforcement of national environmental legislation.
Routine inspections,
investigation, search and seizure, stopping and
immobilizing vehicles, arrests and admission of guilt
fines comprise some of the powers of the EMIs A total of
50 EMIs from DEAT, SANParks, all provincial environment
departments and provincial parks boards were represented
at the course.
The SAPS continue to play a crucial role in enforcing
environmental legislation. EMIs and the SAPS have
developed a close working relationship in the
investigation of environmental crimes. "This
collaboration has seen
previous success rates during the renowned "Operations
Neptune" resulting in high level arrests curbing illegal
abalone trading and poaching in the past years.
890 EMIs have either been designated or are awaiting
designation countrywide and will provide South Africa
with the largest ever environmental police force in the
history of South Africa's conservation and environmental
protection efforts
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For more information contact:
Blessing Manale (Acting Chief Director: Communications)
Mobile: 083-381-2939
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