Webinar 3020/2022: Water pollution, illegal water abstraction

The contamination of rivers, streams, public canals, reservoirs, water sources, aqueducts and wells are serious offenses that pose significant threat to the society. Water bodies can be polluted by a wide variety of substances such as fertilisers, chemicals, microorganisms, waste, sewage trash, dangerous and toxic materials. Sediments resulting from construction activity or soil erosion, petroleum pollution or agricultural related contamination are also remarkable threats.

The illegal abstraction of waters is another serious issue regarding the protection of our water reserves. As a result of illegal exploitation water levels decline in rivers, lakes causing multifaceted problems in ecosystems endangering the human and wildlife environment. Ground water and surface water reserves are particularly targeted in regions where scarcity of water is already an issue further damaging the environment and water supplies.

Unscrupulous criminals make a huge profit by illegal management of waters and by circumventing the environmental rules. To ensure sustainable environment the law enforcement agencies in cooperation with partner agencies must stop and punish wrongdoers. However this is an incredibly complex task. Irrespectively whether the pollution is deliberate or negligent and whatever is its format or how water abstraction occurs the identification and investigation of such cases require dedicated, specialised knowledge, and experience. Effective cooperation from various state agencies including law enforcement, environmental inspectorates, ministries is imminent for success.

What are typical crime patterns of water pollution, illegal water abstraction? What are the crucial evidences in these cases proving the liability of companies? What are the best sources of information/intelligence? How can expert witnesses support the judicial process? What are the good examples of interagency cooperation between police, customs, judiciary, and environmental inspectorate authorities? What are the practical investigative steps taken? These questions will be in the focus of the webinar where a leading expert from the Portuguese National Republican Guard (GNR) will share daily enforcement and investigative practice.