Ministry Makes Environment Police Unit Proposal

According to “Jordan Times”, the Ministry of Environment will forward a recommendation to the Cabinet by mid-February for the creation of a police unit to help protect nature and enforce environmental laws. Ministry of Environment Spokesperson Isa Shboul said that the idea for the unit emerged three months ago following a meeting between officials from the ministries of environment and agriculture and Public Security Department (PSD) officers. The unit, which is expected to be set up during the first quarter of 2006 according to Shboul, will be created within the PSD and include some 600 to 1,000 environmental police officers. The team will inspect factories, industrial zones, and picnic areas and fine violators of environmental laws. To spread awareness on the environment police, a media campaign will be launched coinciding with the inauguration of the unit, according to Shboul.