Improvement of the Police procedures combating financial and economic crime

Project completed

The project will enhance the capacities and technical environment of the Czech Police to detect and combat financial crimes, violations of customs regulations and money laundering by supporting the exchange of experience with neighbouring countries, improving education and training and providing office and audio-visual equipment of its corruption and financial crime unit.
 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Czech Republic
Enhanced security and safety
Combating corruption and organised crime
01.07.2012 - 31.12.2016
CHF  540’770

Note: the texts under all the headings, with the exception of 'Results achieved', describe the situation before the start of the project.

Background

The Police and other law enforcement bodies of the Czech Republic are limited by national budgets and often cannot afford procuring technology and equipment or provide training for its collaborators which makes it easier for criminals to perpetrate crimes, corruption and to conceal proceeds from unlawful activities. Switzerland has an interest in the raise of the number of successful investigations, detection and prosecution of financial crimes, abuse of customs regulations and money laundering by the Police of the Czech Republic.

Objectives

The project's overall goal is to increase the number of successful investigations linked to the misuse of EU funds and to customs and tax evasions as well as the seizure of the proceedings from crime and money laundering. The objectives of the project are: (i): International know-how and standards in crime investigation are reflected in Czech police practice; (ii): Efficient and flexible investigations due to modern infrastructure; (iii): Strong cooperation between the Czech experts and their EU Member States' counterparts

Target groups
  • Citizens of the Czech Republic and the EU/EFTA
  • Police of the Czech Republic
Activities

The project is divided in eight interconnected activities. The first activity focuses on the tender and purchase of office and audio-visual technology. The next six activities entail eight study visits in neighbouring countries and three seminars in the Czech Republic targeted at the acquisition of foreign know-how in the area of seizure of proceeds from crime, fraud at the expenses of EU funds and crime linked to tax and customs evasions. The last activity concerns the preparation of methodological guidelines, utilising the results of the seminars and study visits implemented in the previous activities.

Results

Achieved results:  

  • The strengthening of the institutions and capacity for combating economic and financial crime positively influenced the number of successfully investigated and solved cases from 47% in 2009 to 55.6% in 2016.
  • New guidelines, including recent successful methods in combatting financial and economic crimes in other EU-countries, effective legislation of the topic as well as recommendations for police staff, are implemented in the Czech Republic.
  • The acquisition of necessary technological, IT and audiovisual equipment, which is fully functional, provides the conditions for fast and effective investigations.
  • Through several study visits and participations of unit 24 members at expert conferences in Germany, Hungary and Slovakia, international know how was gained in the area of misuse of public funds, customs and tax evasion as well as money laundering which allows to combat these crimes more efficiently. Through the exchange of international best practices, 24 Czech police officers are trained as experts combating corruption and economic crimes with the most recent methods in the field.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss Contribution to the enlarged EU
Project partners Contract partner
Foreign state institution
  • National State Institute North


Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    540’770 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    449’520
Project phases

Phase 1 01.07.2012 - 31.12.2016   (Completed)