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
Blessing Manale (Acting Chief Director: Communications)
