The new law would allow environmental inspectors to carry non-lethal weapons, such as gas canisters and batons, in order to counter the growing influx of organized crime in the environmental sector, writes ERR News.
According to the plan initiated by the Climate Ministry, all inspectors will be allowed to carry and, if necessary, use non-lethal weapons, such as batons, for self-defense. Those officials who do not yet have such a permit will be allowed to use handcuffs.
According to Timo Kark, head of the Biodiversity Protection Department at the Climate Ministry, the risk is not just theoretical – the work often takes place around the clock, including at night and in unfamiliar places, and you never know who you will encounter or what their intentions will be.
Kark said that there have been cases in the past when encounters with offenders have ended with the use of force, as well as cases where weapons have been used to apprehend violators.
In some environmental protection areas, such as hunting and forestry, workers are already allowed to carry weapons.
Kark said that currently these inspectors have to choose between using a weapon or their bare hands, and there is no middle ground that batons and other non-lethal weapons will now offer. “Today, handcuffs and firearms are available to environmental inspectors who supervise hunting, forestry, and fisheries, but in other areas, they don’t even have those,” the official said. He pointed out that if handcuffs and a firearm are available, but the attacker attacks with a board or garden shears, the question of a proportionate response arises, because using a weapon against shears may not be appropriate.
The Climate Ministry has indicated that the changes will allow environmental inspectors to work more efficiently and prevent violations such as dumping hazardous waste in places not intended for this.
Crime against Estonia is becoming an increasingly serious problem, and violations of the law can be financially tempting; the ministry also pointed to the involvement of organized crime. Regarding firearms, the ministry informed that inspectors who are not allowed to carry them will no longer be allowed to do so.
The ministry’s plan will soon be submitted to parliament for consideration.
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