Sweden needs a sharper environmental penal code and an effective system for detecting and investigating environmental crimes, according to Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L).
Not only to protect people's health and our environment, but also to protect our society from the threats posed by organized environmental crime, she says at a press conference on the Environmental Penal Code Inquiry's report.
The investigator Helena Eckerrot Flodin presents a long list of proposals on how Sweden can strengthen its work against organized environmental crime, which is increasing in scope annually in the EU and Sweden, according to Pourmokhtari.
Own Law
Among other things, it is proposed that environmental crimes be handled in a separate environmental penal code, rather than being part of the Environmental Code.
They also want to tighten penalties, as the inquiry has identified several environmental crimes that are particularly attractive to organized crime, she says.
It's about environmental crimes, species protection crimes, hazardous chemical handling, and unauthorized waste transport.
For intentional crimes, the penalty is increased to imprisonment for up to three years, and for aggravated environmental crimes and aggravated species protection crimes, to imprisonment for up to eight years.
New Crime
It is also proposed that a completely new crime, waste crime, be introduced.
This paragraph is intended to increase the possibility of tackling organized crime in the waste sector, says Eckerrot Flodin.
Furthermore, they want to see a stricter suitability test for actors who want to establish themselves on the waste market, and better cooperation between authorities. It is proposed that a national coordination function under the police be established.
They will continuously identify, map, and analyze the risks and methods of environmental crime, annually produce a national picture of environmental crime, function as a forum, and exchange information and knowledge with regional cooperation functions.
The inquiry is now being sent out for review.
