On the beat for the environment

WWF: Police unit vital to curb these crimes

PETALING JAYA: A special unit investigating environmental crime must be set up within the police force to fight such wrongdoing while preventing environmental disasters, says WWF-Malaysia conservation director Dr Henry Chan.

He said environmental crime cut across the jurisdiction of many enforcement agencies and could be trans-boundary in nature.

“According to Interpol, such crimes are often committed together with other offences, such as passport fraud, corruption, money laundering and even murder, and routes used to traffic wildlife are often used to traffic arms, drugs and people.

“Therefore, having a central unit under police will help to effectively curb environmental crime,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Under the special unit, the police can take the lead role in intelligence gathering and investigating environmental crime with other enforcement agencies, cutting across different laws and jurisdictions.

“Efficient investigation of possible links to other organised crime such as money laundering, narcotics and arms trafficking can be handled in a more holistic manner.

“Such a unit will enhance and complement the powers of environment enforcement agencies by providing a strategic approach in tackling these crimes,” he said.

It was reported last year that InspectorGeneral of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun had lauded the idea, but cited financial constraints as the reason why a new department or special unit on environmental crime was not feasible at that time, he added.

The organisation also hoped to see environmental crime given the same importance as other crimes.

“A dedicated environmental crime unit within the police force will show the world that Malaysia views these crimes very seriously,” Dr Chan said.

Recent incidents, especially the illegal dumping of hazardous chemical waste at Sungai Kim Kim underscored the need for such a special unit, he added.