New national police unit for environmental and animal welfare matters anchored in South-East Jutland
A new national police unit will investigate the largest environmental and nature crime cases. The unit will receive approximately 10 million kroner and is expected to be fully established by 2028.
New unit to crack down harder on nature and environmental crime
A new national police unit will centralise efforts against nature, environmental and animal welfare crime in Denmark, the Ministry of Justice has informed Ritzau, as reported by B.T. The unit will be tasked with investigating and prosecuting the largest and most complex cases in the field.
Through a multi-year agreement, approximately ten million kroner has been allocated to the strengthened effort.
Justice Minister Nicolai Wammen (S) emphasises that the Government will not tolerate illegal interference with nature.
– We must not accept that people alter protected coastal cliffs without permission or choose to excavate a bog, he says, calling it "a core priority for the Government to look after our nature well".
– This requires, amongst other things, that we take strong action against environmental and nature crime, Wammen adds.
The new unit will be anchored in South-East Jutland Police. According to the Justice Minister, the placement supports the Government's wish for "strong workplaces throughout Denmark", and a larger, more specialised unit will create the best conditions for efforts in nature, environmental and animal welfare matters.
Police Director Brian Fussing clarifies in a written response to Ritzau that the establishment will take place gradually over a transition period.
– This involves, amongst other things, finding a location for the unit, consolidating tasks, recruiting staff, developing the organisation and planning the transfer of tasks from the police districts, Fussing explains.
He states that resources are being added to the task, but that it is still too early to specify the exact number of employees.
The expectation is that the unit will be fully established by the second quarter of 2028 at the latest.
Smaller cases will continue to be investigated and handled by the individual police districts. Part of the further work will be to establish the specific interfaces between the national unit and the local districts, Fussing writes.
Source: B.T.