The webinar will focus on the growing need to equip law enforcement authorities (LEAs) with the skills to tackle niche and emerging criminal activities, such as environmental crime and cultural heritage trafficking.

As these crimes evolve and cross international borders, LEAs face significant challenges, from complex investigative requirements to a lack of targeted training and the need to keep pace with the evolving technological landscape. The webinar will discuss innovative and collaborative approaches from leading projects (EMERITUS, RITHMS) and institutional organizations (CEPOL and UNITAR) to foster capacity building among LEAs.

The webinar will begin by setting the scene and explaining the need to tackle niche crime and the importance of providing and continually updating training to enhance the capabilities of LEAs. Panelists will then describe their ongoing efforts at the project and institutional level in this domain. This will be followed by a dynamic panel discussion on key challenges such as the obstacles faced by LEAs, adapting training to the evolving nature of these crimes and the difficulties of training in the use of advanced technology.

Relevant insights will be shared by each panelist leveraging on their unique perspective and works ongoing in the training domain. In particular, EMERITUS is working on improving the capacity of LEAs and border guards to detect and investigate environmental crimes, in particular waste-related offenses, by providing new technological tools, procedural options and innovative training programs. Meanwhile, RITHMS addresses the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage, focusing on the development of intelligence and risk assessment strategies to combat this global problem.

UNITAR will present insights on capacity building from its international perspective, offering tailored training programs to assist law enforcement in dealing with these emerging crimes. CEPOL, the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training, will provide insights into how European police forces can benefit from enhanced training to address these evolving threats. The event will conclude with a summary of key takeaways, highlighting the essential role of cooperation and training in combating these specific forms of crime, and commenting on relevant challenges for the future.