Special investigative service participated in “The European Partners against Corruption” (EPAC/EACN) 22nd Annual Professional Conference in Dublin.

The 22nd Annual EPAC/EACN Conferences started with the opening remarks of the Irish Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, Vice president of EPAC/EACN Lucile Roland and her deputy, commissioner of Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission Hugh Hume.

The two-day event brought together 25 speakers from international organizations, EU agencies and EPAC/EACN members to discuss topics related to whistleblowing, investigating gender-based and domestic violence, the integrity principles in the police and the use of modern digital technologies in the investigation process. The representatives of the network membership candidate countries addressed the participants at the international conference.

In his speech, the head of the Special Investigation Service, Koka Katsitadze, highlighted the importance of joining the network of the newly established investigation service, the service development, structure, achievements and readiness for close cooperation with member countries.

The Special Investigation Service joined the Dublin Declaration adopted by the representatives of the national Police Oversight Bodies (POBs) and Anti-Corruption Authorities (ACAs) of the Member States of the Council of Europe and the European Union. The document aims to strengthen cooperation between the signatory countries and organizations in police oversight and the fight against corruption.

The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission of Ireland, the Belgian Standing Committee for Police Monitoring (committee P), the Danish Independent Police Complaints Service, the Norwegian Bureau for the Investigation of Police Affairs, the Swedish Special Investigation Department, the Lithuanian Special Investigation Service, the Netherlands Rijksrecherche, the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), Police Investigation and Review Commissioner (PIRC) and other independent police oversight bodies of EU Member States attended the Dublin Conference.

This year, The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission and Ireland"s anti-corruption agencies hosted the Conference at "Croke Park" in Dublin which gathered almost 200 participants from over 30 countries.