Support to the State Police for increasing effectiveness and quality of economic crime investigation in Latvia

Description

The main aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the Latvian State Police in combating economic crimes by improving both the technical capacity of the responsible departments and raising the knowledge and skills of officers, to make the process of the investigation of economic crimes more effective and reliable. There will be activities aimed at improving the professional skills and improving inter-agency cooperation, which follows the recommendations in the Moneyval report.

The main activities in the project include:

• strengthening the economic crime case-processing capacity, by
  • upgrading the infrastructure of the forensic laboratories at the Forensic Service Department;
  • introducing new forensic methods;
  • training of staff (seminars, training sessions, conferences);
• supporting the capacity development of law enforcement authorities, by
  • training of professionals on the combating of economic crime and corruption
  • installing a new analytical tool
  • expanding and upgrading the Economic Crime Enforcement Department;
  • performing a gap analysis on existing cooperation and coordination mechanisms;
  • capacity building and peer exchange visits to enhance knowledge and skills of the Latvian State Police;
  • peer exchange visits on good practices regarding investigation of complex crimes.

Summary of project results

The project aimed to address challenges related to:

• areas where economic crime investigations could be made more robust and dependable - this involved enhancing the technical resources available and providing officers with opportunities to further develop their expertise. This included deficiencies in technical capacity and officers skills.
• weaknesses identified in the Moneyval report - specifically, the need to improve professional skills and inter-agency cooperation.
• gaps in existing cooperation and coordination mechanisms - hindering effective law enforcement.
• need for improved forensic capabilities - including infrastructure and new forensic methods.

The project focused on strengthening the State Police of Latvia''s capacity to combat economic crimes through several key activities:

• upgrading infrastructure - this included improving forensic laboratories and Economic Crime Enforcement department infrastructure.
• introducing new method - implementing new forensic technique.
• training staff - providing seminars, training sessions, and conferences for officers.
• developing law enforcement capacity - offering training on combating economic crime and corruption.
• analyzing cooperation - performing gap analysis on existing cooperation and coordination mechanisms.
• building capacity and exchanging knowledge - conducting peer exchange visits to enhance the knowledge and skills of law enforcement agencies.
• sharing good practices - facilitating peer exchange visits on good practices regarding the investigation of complex and environmental crimes.

Key outcomes and impacts:

• enhanced law enforcement capacity:
  • the project significantly strengthened the State Police''s ability to investigate economic crimes through improved technical capabilities and enhanced officer skills.
• improved inter-agency cooperation:
  • the project facilitated better coordination and cooperation among law enforcement agencies, addressing gaps identified in previous assessments. This was achieved through activities like gap analysis and peer exchange visits.
• increased effectiveness in combating economic crime:
  • the project aimed to achieve more effective and higher-quality pre-trial investigations of economic crimes, leading to faster and better submission of quality documents for prosecution.
  • the project also improved the ability of the State Police to combat environmental crime.
• modernization of infrastructure:
  • significant improvements to the infrastructure and technical capacity of the Economic Crime Enforcement Department, Cybercrime Control Department and Forensic Department.
• knowledge sharing:
  • the project facilitated knowledge sharing through international seminars and peer exchange visits.

Beneficiaries:

• the State Police of Latvia:
  • officers gained improved skills and access to advanced tools and resources.
• the Latvian society:
  • citizens benefit from a more secure environment.
• the Latvian legal system:
  • the project contributes to a more efficient and effective justice system.
• international partners:
  • increased cooperation and the sharing of best practices with international partners, such as Økokrim and the OECD.
• the environment:
  • improved ability to investigate and prosecute environmental crimes.

In essence, the project aimed to create a more robust and capable law enforcement system in Latvia, ultimately contributing to a safer and more just society.

Summary of bilateral results

This project powerfully demonstrates the value of international cooperation, particularly through bilateral partnerships. The sustained and highly productive collaboration with Norway''s ØKOKRIM has been a key driver of success. By organizing six targeted activities—study visits, workshops, and specialized training—the project facilitated a deep and meaningful exchange of knowledge between Latvian and Norwegian law enforcement professionals. This cooperation went beyond simply fostering closer ties between the two police forces; it resulted in a substantial transfer of specialized expertise in the fight against economic and environmental crime. The final meeting in Riga, held in February 2024, reinforced the project''s achievements and established a strong foundation for the partnership''s continued success.