New Guidelines aim to improve CSO-law enforcement collaboration

The Nature Crime Alliance, with the support of United for Wildlife and members of the INTERPOL Wildlife Crime Working Group, has published a new set of Guidelines to improve the processes for civil society organisations (CSOs) to share information with law enforcement on environmental crime.

The Guidelines aim to meet an often-cited and critical challenge: ensuring that high-quality information collected by CSOs is shared effectively with the appropriate law enforcement authorities in a way that is useful for investigations and prosecutions.

The Guidelines have been shaped by feedback from both law enforcement and CSO stakeholders, with aspects aimed at both communities.

The Nature Crime Alliance Secretariat conducted interviews with subject matter experts and disseminated surveys to CSOs and law enforcement to identify best practice to help improve the capability of CSOs to successfully support law enforcement investigations on environmental crime.

Davyth Stewart, Consultant with the Nature Crime Alliance Secretariat who helped draft the Guidelines, commented: “We often hear there is a need for closer collaboration between civil society and law enforcement in the fight against environmental crime. The Nature Crime Alliance was established to meet this need, bringing different sectors together to build closer ties and improve operational capacity.

“These Guidelines are a good example of this approach, and will hopefully lead to more fruitful partnerships between CSOs and law enforcement which will in turn drive greater success against the illicit networks involved in environmental crimes.”

This activity builds on the work of United for Wildlife, a powerful coalition tackling wildlife crime which supported the development of the Guidelines.

Rob Campbell, Director of United for Wildlife, commented: “United for Wildlife has continuously supported and facilitated information sharing across sectors, working to build global networks that include CSOs, the private sector and law enforcement. CSOs play a critical role in understanding and detecting aspects of illegal wildlife trade, so it’s critical their insights reach the right enforcement leads to maximise impact and disrupt criminal networks. These new Guidelines make this possible, ensuring actionable information is shared in the most timely and effective manner.”

The Guidelines complement a raft of Resources launched by the Nature Crime Alliance – hosted by World Resources Institute – earlier this year, including a Wildlife Crime Expert Directory to connect law enforcement with subject matter experts, and a Knowledge Database.

Shaped by both law enforcement and CSO perspectives

In a survey disseminated by the Nature Crime Alliance, many law enforcement agencies reported high levels of engagement with civil society organisations and acknowledged the value of CSO contributions.

A total of 95% of respondents indicated that they had previously used information provided by CSOs to support operational activities. Moreover, 86% of respondents rated the quality of this information as either good or excellent, underscoring the significant potential of CSOs to contribute meaningfully to environmental crime investigations when information is credible, well-documented, and aligned with enforcement needs. Best practices were identified and are set out in the Guidelines.

However, the survey also identified a key challenge CSOs face in terms of the feedback they receive from law enforcement after sharing information.

Asked what kind of feedback they would find most valuable after submitting information to law enforcement, CSOs overwhelmingly indicated that they would most appreciate guidance on how to improve the quality, presentation, or relevance of the information they provide. Yet only 25% of CSO respondents reported having ever received such feedback.

The Guidelines therefore highlight the importance for law enforcement agencies in improving their feedback processes for CSOs, alongside providing insights for CSOs on this key challenge.

Comprehensive focus

The Guidelines are structured across nine chapters.

1. Helping law enforcement to understand the role of CSOs in environmental crime investigations: This chapter provides law enforcement with an overview of the different functions that CSOs may perform in the collection of information, while also identifying key ethical and legal considerations that must be observed.

2. Helping CSOs meet quality standards for the information they share: How do law enforcement agencies assess the value of information they receive? By understanding this assessment process, CSOs can ensure that the information they provide meets the necessary quality standards. It includes examples of frameworks used by different organisations that CSOs might wish to adopt.

3. Recommendations for CSOs to improve their contributions: This chapter provides guidance for CSOs to ensure that the information they share is of value to law enforcement. Alongside a list of best practice steps, it includes advice on how information should be formatted. 

4. Recommendations for law enforcement in verifying information received from CSOs: While civil society organisations can provide valuable intelligence, law enforcement should also independently verify the information before acting on it. This chapter shares guidelines to support verification.

5. Strengthening the relationship between CSOs and law enforcement: This chapter explores the importance of building trusted relationships between CSOs and law enforcement, presenting examples that can support this activity.

6. Risks and operational challenges: What are the challenges that can arise when CSOs and law enforcement collaborate? This chapter explores these and provides strategies on how to overcome them and avoid associated risks.

7. Guidance to help CSOs manage corruption risks: CSOs should recognise the risk posed by corruption when engaging with law enforcement. This chapter outlines the different forms such corruption can take, and provides a ten-point set of guidelines to mitigate this risk.

8. The importance of law enforcement providing feedback: This chapter notes that CSOs often do not receive a response from law enforcement after sharing information. Providing feedback can help law enforcement organisations build trust and strengthen relationships with CSOs that could lead to future successes.

9. Things CSOs should consider before making information public: This chapter highlights the reasons that CSOs may choose to publish information without first sharing it with law enforcement, but notes the risks this could pose – including to potential investigations

Multi-sector collaboration

The Guidelines reflect the value of networks like the Nature Crime Alliance and United for Wildlife in bringing different sectors together to strengthen collaboration.

Tsveti Bandakova, Advisor, Nature Crime Alliance, commented: “Developed with input from across the Nature Crime Alliance, these new Guidelines—and our Expert Directory—give law enforcement and civil society a stronger foundation to work together. They are practical tools that will help turn shared commitments into real, coordinated action against nature crime.”

For their time and valuable contributions to the Guidelines, the Nature Crime Alliance Secretariat thanks the members of the INTERPOL Wildlife Crime Working Group, the INTERPOL Environmental Security Unit, UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, ADM Capital Foundation, Conservation South Luangwa, EAGLE Network, the Environmental Investigation Agency, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, United for Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Investigators Training Alliance.