Water Crimes and Policing
Purpose:
Water is a crucial natural resource for the survival of the human and various other species. As a result, water is becoming more and more attractive to various economic and criminal groups. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to present crimes against water, the types of water crimes, an analysis of the situation in Slovenia and the police measures in the field of water security.
Methods:
The water crimes phenomenon was analysed by applying a descriptive method, literature review, statistical data analysis and information received from the police.
Findings:
Water crimes are an emerging global issue. Water crimes include diverse types of crimes ranging from the pilfering of water from pipelines, illegal waste management, water theft, river and marine pollution, manipulation of sampling methods to avoid treatment costs, fraud and illegal trafficking of water, terrorism and cyber-attacks on water management operations, illegal waste discharges from factories, and unauthorised consumption from the water network. Water crimes are hard to detect, investigate, prosecute and study. It is necessary for law enforcement officers to have knowledge related to water crimes – from natural and social sciences to other knowledge such as biology and chemistry. Further, they must have well-organised coordination and cooperation with other formal social control entities like inspectorates, institutes etc.
Originality/Value:
The paper presents water crime issues and makes an important contribution to the professional and general public with respect to the prevention and formal social control of water crime.
UDC: 351.741:[343.3/.7:502.51]
Keywords: water, water crime, environmental crime, police, policing