Rangers, enforcement officers attend series of training to tackle wildlife crime in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Wildlife enforcement and crime prosecution are expected to improve in Sabah with rangers and other enforcement officials completing the fourth of a series of training here.

Titled "Crime Scene and Advanced Investigation Techniques," this five-module training that was supposed to be conducted consecutively throughout 2020, had to be readjusted following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Programme trainer, Justin Gosling - a law-enforcement and criminal justice specialist whose experience spans three decades - said that the four modules of this programme were spread over three years.

It covered topics such as operational planning, surveillance, controlled deliveries, crime scene investigation and evidence management and continuity, among others, he said.

"This course is essential to tackle serious organised wildlife crime and provide a comprehensive range of tactics that the enforcement officers can use," he said.

The series of training was organised by the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), with funding from the US Department of State.

Gosling said the enthusiasm and commitment of participants demonstrated throughout the programme showed that they were prepared and willing to take on the scourge of wildlife crimes.

He said it was important for SWD officers and for those from other agencies that come across wildlife crimes, to work together and continue learning and practising methods that will help secure arrests, prosecutions and convictions.

"This series of training has enabled this," he said.

Gosling said the continuity of support from the agencies and participants throughout the four modules provided a unique opportunity to strengthen the collaboration between agencies and a forum to exchange experiences where junior officers learnt from the most experienced ones.

This training is part of the "Boosting Enforcement and Forensic Capacity to Deter Wildlife Trafficking in Sabah" programme, which has been running since 2019, and is funded through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

Gosling’s past careers included being a British police detective and as a consultant developing counter-trafficking policy and responses for world leading crime prevention organisations including the intergovernmental organisation (Interpol).

Dr Milena Salgado Lynn, DGFC’s programme manager, noted that unlike the Royal Malaysian Police, agencies like the SWD, Sabah Forestry Department and Sabah Parks had no academy or college where their personnel could attend to learn the topics and techniques covered in these modules.

"Given their role in law enforcement for wildlife crimes, courses like this one are necessary and Danau Girang Field Centre is very pleased to organise them," she said.

A total of 45 participants were trained through the whole programme and provided with a manual, in English and Malay, covering all the topics.

Participating agencies included the Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Parks, Department of Fisheries, Perhilitan, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency, Eastern Sabah Security Command, General Operations Force, Royal Malaysian Police, Marine Police, WWF Sabah and Danau Girang Field Centre.

The INL funded programme will end next year.