Environmental Crime Prevention Strategies: Government and Stakeholders

This report examines environmental crime prevention strategies, focusing on the Australian context. It begins by defining environmental crimes, such as pollution, illegal trading of substances, and poaching, and then identifies key stakeholders, including the public and business enterprises, who can contribute to prevention efforts. The report details strategies implemented by the Australian government, such as the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, and highlights the role of the Australian Federal Police in enforcement. It also explores lessons learned from other jurisdictions and proposes recommendations for stricter regulatory frameworks, increased penalties, and greater local authority. The report emphasizes the importance of preserving the environment for future generations and suggests methods for the Australian Federal Police to enforce stricter regimes and protect heritage sites. The report draws on various sources, including academic publications and government documents, to support its analysis and recommendations.

ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME
PREVENTION STRATEGIES

INTRODUCTION
• The government has taken various steps in order to
prevent the environmental crime which is increasing
day by day.
• Illegal fishing, poaching and hunting of animals,
dumping of the toxic waste are some of the examples
of such crime.
• The government has taken different approaches to
reduce human interference in the wilderness in order
to ensure safety of the animals (Brisman, South &
White 2016).

CATEGORIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME
• Pollution of any land, air or water
• Illegal trading of the ozone-depleting substances
• Dumping of toxic waste in the Water Bodies
• Finning and Illegal fishing and hunting of Animals
• Trafficking of Wild Animals
• Indiscriminate logging

STAKEHOLDERS WHO CAN HELP REDUCE
CRIMES AGAINST ENVIRONMENT
• The public being the major stakeholders can
help and assist the government by preventing
environmental crimes.
• There are various approaches that can be taken
for preserving the wild life and the endangered
species.
• The stakeholders can be business enterprises
who can sponsor the initiatives taken by the
government to decrease the rate of crimes on
the environment.

STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED BY THE
GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE
ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME
• Environmental Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act, 1999.
• Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports & Imports)
Act, 1989, Fisheries Management Act, 1991.
• The principal law enforcement agency is the
Australian Federal Police which is considered to take
lead role in protecting the crimes against
environment and investigating any kind of acts which
are hampering the environment.

RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME
• The principal law enforcement agency is the
Australian Federal Police .
• The EPBC Act in Australia makes it a serious offence
for the people and it takes action against the
individual who commits an offence in matters which
are protected by the Act.
• There are various initiatives taken by the local
governments in the nation under the EPBC Act.

RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME
• The local governments need to take approval
from the environment minister. The
environment minister after considering the
seriousness of the matter gives an approval
within twenty business days.
• The Act contains various civil and criminal
penalties for any violations or breaches which
have been committed under the Act.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS
• There are various techniques adopted in order to
protect the marine turtles and new technologies
are being invented in order to protect them.
• Various awareness has been created about such
crimes against environment and thus, appropriate
measures are being taken for the depletion of
ozone layer.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM OTHER
JURISDICTIONS
• Certain green initiatives are being
implemented as measures to protect the
ozone layer.
• There are various regulations which have
been enforced for protection of wild
animals from illegal poaching or for
commercial exploitation.

STRATEGIES THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED BY
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
• The AFP can enforce stricter regimes which would
help in preserving the nature.
• There are various heritage sites in Australia they
provide a huge variety of landscapes as well as
ecosystems which needs to be protected and
preserved (Wright 2017).
• Preserving the environment is essential because it
would help the future generations to survive and
enjoy the resources. Therefore, as a major law
enforcing agency
• The Australian Federal tries to implement
techniques which would protect the environment
and try to ensure safety of flora as well as fauna.

RECOMMENDATIONS
There needs to be a stricter regulatory framework which would help in reducing
the rate of environmental crime.
The local authorities should also get certain regulatory powers and authorities
which would not depend on the approval of the higher authorities.
The penalties which are imposed on the corporations and the individuals who
commit any kind of environmental offence should be higher than it already is
which would make the crime rate reduce due to such heavy penalty.

REFERENCES
Brisman, A., South, N. & White, R. eds., 2016. Environmental crime and
social conflict: contemporary and emerging issues. Routledge.
Wright, G., 2017. Conceptualising and combating transnational
environmental crime. In Transnational Environmental Crime (pp. 33-48).
Routledge.
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999.
Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports & Imports) Act, 1989, Fisheries
Management Act, 1991.