POB Role on Tackling Corruption
Members and observers of the EPAC/EACN took part in a webinar dedicated to the role of police oversight bodies in tackling corruption within law enforcement. The event provided a platform for exchanging institutional experience, practical tools and preventive approaches aimed at strengthening integrity, accountability and public trust in policing.
Mr Pedro FIGUEIREDO, Inspector-General at the Inspectorate-General of Internal Administration in Portugal, vice-president of EPAC/EACN, expressed his appreciation for hosting the webinar and underlined the importance of continuous exchange of knowledge, experience and good practices within the EPAC/EACN network.
The event was moderated by Ms Marion HIDRIO, Head of the French National Police General Inspectorate in Rennes, deputy vice-president of EPAC/EACN. The session featured presentations by representatives of the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie (IGGN), France, the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), France, and the Inspectorate-General of Internal Administration (IGAI), Portugal.
Representatives from the General Inspectorate of the French National Gendarmerie (IGGN) – Colonel Adrien VÉRON, Head of the Criminal Investigations Bureau, and Ms Léanne CLAEYSEN, Jurist Analyst within the Internal Investigations Division, presented the topic of communication, awareness-raising and training of law enforcement officers on corruption risks. Their presentation explored how gendarmerie officers can better understand the ways in which corruption risks may emerge, including through personal, professional or operational vulnerabilities. They also outlined existing and planned prevention tools, such as the anti-corruption MOOC, self-assessment mechanisms, operational feedback and future initiatives aimed at improving officers’ ability to recognise risk situations, weak signals and the operational and criminal consequences of corrupt behavior.
Ms Hélène THOREL, Police Superintendent and Deputy Head of the National Anti-Corruption Delegation within the General Inspectorate of the French National Police (IGPN), France, addressed whistle-blowing topic and the improvement of internal and external reporting of corruption-related misconduct. She presented the main sources of information that may lead to internal affairs investigations and highlighted the need to encourage reporting, strengthen monitoring tools and explore alternative sources of information to detect misconduct more effectively.
Mr Eurico João Naves Nunes Da SILVA, Inspector at the Inspectorate-General of Internal Administration (IGAI), Portugal, presented the institution’s role in preventing and tackling corruption within law enforcement. He provided an overview of the Inspectorate-General of Internal Administration (IGAI), Portugal’s mandate as an independent oversight body and focused in particular on its monitoring of police operations, including large-scale operations and on-the-spot roadside checks. He also addressed the relevance of the Police Code of Ethics and the importance of adapting ethical guidance to current challenges related to integrity and corruption prevention.
This was followed by Ms Inês FARINHA, Inspector at the Inspectorate-General of Internal Administration (IGAI), Portugal, who presented how audits and inspections contribute to preventing and addressing corruption risks. She explained the Inspectorate-General of Internal Administration (IGAI), Portugal’s external control role in relation to services under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with particular attention to security forces. Her presentation highlighted the importance of audits in assessing legal compliance, transparency, efficiency and the practical implementation of corruption risk prevention measures across relevant institutions.
The discussions underlined that effective police oversight requires not only investigation and disciplinary action, but also prevention, training, institutional learning and cooperation between oversight bodies. In his closing remarks, Mr Pedro FIGUEIREDO emphasised that anti-corruption efforts should not be merely reactive, but also preventive and pedagogical, supported by specialised training and the monitoring of police action in order to contribute to the excellence of police activity and its interaction with citizens.
The EPAC/EACN Secretariat extends its appreciation to all speakers and participants for their contributions. Members and observers wishing to suggest topics for future webinars or activities are invited to contact the Secretariat at secretariat@epac-eacn.org, thereby helping to shape future exchanges within the EPAC/EACN network.
