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.

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

• Citizens of the Czech Republic and the EU/EFTA
• Police of the Czech Republic

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.

Résultats obtenus:  

• 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.

Phase 1 01.07.2012 - 31.12.2016   (Completed)