First Previous (Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Act 2004)

20 2004

Criminal Justice (Joint Investigation Teams) Act 2004

SCHEDULE

Framework Decision of 13 June 2002 of the Council of the European Union on Joint Investigation Teams

Section 1(1). .

PART 1

TREOIRCHINNEADH ÓN gCOMHAIRLE 2002/465/CGB

an 13 Meitheamh 2002

maidir le foirne comhpháirteacha um imscrúdú

TÁ COMHAIRLE AN AONTAIS EORPAIGH,

Ag féachaint don Chonradh ar an Aontas Eorpach, agus go háirithe d'Airteagal 34(2)(b) de,

Ag féachaint don tionscnamh ó Ríocht na Beilge, ó Phoblacht na Fraince, ó Ríocht na Spáinne agus ón Ríocht Aontaithe 1 ,

Ag féachaint don tuairim ó Pharlaimint na hEorpa 2 ,

De bhrí:

(1) Go bhfuil sé ar cheann de chuspóirí an Aontais ardleibhéal sábháilteachta a chur ar fáil dá chuid saoránach laistigh de réimse saoirse, slándála agus ceartais agus go bhfuil an cuspóir sin le gnóthú tríd an gcoiriúlacht a chosc agus a chomhrac trí chomhar níos dlúithe idir na fórsaí póilíneachta, na húdaráis chustaim agus údaráis inniúla eile sna Ballstáit agus lena linn sin na prionsabail á n-urramú acu a bhaineann le cearta an duine agus saoirsí bunúsacha agus smacht reachta ar a bhfuil an tAontas fothaithe agus is coiteann do na Ballstáit.

(2) Gur iarr an Chomhairle Eorpach in Tampere an 15 agus 16 Deireadh Fómhair 1999 foirne comhpháirteacha um imscrúdú dá bhforáiltear sa Chonradh a chur ar bun gan mhoill, mar chéad chéim, chun an gháinneáil i ndrugaí, an cheannaíocht i ndaoine agus an sceimhlitheoireacht a chomhrac.

(3) Go bhfuil forálacha leagtha síos in Airteagal 13 den Choinbhinsiún arna bhunú ag an gComhairle i gcomhréir le hAirteagal 34 den Chonradh ar an Aontas Eorpach um Chúnamh Frithpháirteach in Ábhair Choiriúla idir Ballstáit an Aontais Eorpaigh3 ar mhaithe le bunú agus oibríocht foirne comhpháirteacha um imscrúdú.

(4) Áitíonn an Chomhairle go nglactar gach beart chun a áirithiú go ndéantar an Coinbhinsiún seo a dhaingniú a luaithe is féidir, agus le linn 2002 ar aon chaoi.

(5) Aithníonn an Chomhairle go bhfuil sé tábhachtach an glaoch ón gComhairle Eorpach maidir le foirne comhpháirteacha um imscrúdú a chur ar bun gan mhoill a fhreagairt go gasta.

(6) Measann an Chomhairle gurb iomchuí, d'fhonn an choiriúlacht idirnáisiúnta a chomhrac a éifeachtaí agus is féidir, ag an gcéim seo go nglacfaí ag leibhéal an Aontais ionstraim shonrach atá ceangailteach ó thaobh dlí maidir le foirne comhpháirteacha um imscrúdú agus go mbeadh sí infheidhme ar imscrúduithe comhpháirteacha a bhaineann leis an ngáinneáil i ndrugaí, leis an gceannaíocht i ndaoine agus leis an sceimhlitheoireacht.

(7) Measann an Chomhairle gur chóir foirne den sórt sin a chur ar bun mar thosaíocht chun cionta arna ndéanamh ag sceimhlitheoirí a chomhrac.

(8) Na Ballstáit a chuireann foireann ar bun, ba chóir dóibh a comhdhéanamh, a cuspóir agus a ré a chinneadh.

(9) Na Ballstáit a chuireann foireann ar bun, ba chóir go mbeadh an chaoi acu a chinneadh, nuair is féidir sin agus i gcomhréir leis an dlí is infheidhme, ligean do dhaoine nach n-ionadaíonn na húdaráis inniúla sna Ballstáit páirt a ghlacadh i ngníomhaíochtaí na foirne, agus gur féidir a áireamh ar na daoine sin ionadaithe, mar shampla, do Europol, don Choimisiún (OLAF) nó ionadaithe do na húdaráis sna neamhBhallstáit, agus go háirithe ionadaithe do na húdaráis um fhorghníomhú an dlí sna Stáit Aontaithe. Sna cásanna sin, ba chóir go sonrófaí sa chomhaontú lena gcuirtear an fhoireann ar bun na saincheisteanna a bhaineann le dliteanas ionchasach i dtaca leis na hionadaithe sin.

(10) Ba chóir d'fhoireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú oibriú ar chríoch Ballstáit i gcomhréir leis an dlí is infheidhme sa Bhallstát sin.

(11) Ba chóir go mbeadh an Treoirchinneadh seo gan dochar d'aon fhorálacha nó socruithe atá ann maidir le cur ar bun nó oibríocht foirne comhpháirteacha um imscrúdú,

TAR ÉIS AN TREOIRCHINNEADH SEO A GHLACADH:

Airteagal 1

Foirne comhpháirteacha um imscrúdú

1. Féadfaidh na húdaráis inniúla in dhá Bhallstát nó níos mó, de thoil a chéile, foireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú a chur ar bun ar mhaithe le cuspóir sonrach agus go ceann tréimhse teoranta, is féidir a shíneadh de thoil a chéile, chun imscrúduithe coiriúla a chur i gcrích i mBallstát amháin nó níos mó a chuireann an fhoireann ar bun. Beidh comhdhéanamh na foirne leagtha amach sa chomhaontú.

Féadfar foireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú a chur ar bun, go háirithe:

(a) nuair a éilíonn imscrúduithe de chuid Ballstáit maidir le cionta coiriúla imscrúduithe deacra achrannacha a bhfuil naisc acu le Ballstáit eile;

(b) nuair atá roinnt Ballstát ag seoladh imscrúduithe maidir le cionta coiriúla ina n-éilíonn imthosca an cháis gníomhaíocht chomhordaithe, chomhbheartaithe sna Ballstáit i dtrácht.

Féadfaidh aon cheann de na Ballstáit i dtrácht iarraidh a dhéanamh chun foireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú a chur ar bun. Cuirfear an fhoireann ar bun i gceann de na Ballstáit ina bhfuiltear ag súil go gcuirfear na himscrúduithe i gcrích.

2. I dteannta leis an bhfaisnéis dá dtagraítear sna forálacha ábhartha d'Airteagal 14 den Choinbhinsiún Eorpach um Chúnamh Frithpháirteach in Ábhair Choiriúla agus d'Airteagal 37 de Chonradh Benelux an 27 Meitheamh 1962, mar atá arna leasú le Prótacal an 11 Bealtaine 1974, beidh in iarrataí chun foireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú a chur ar bun tograí maidir le comhdhéanamh na foirne.

3. Oibreoidh foireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú ar chríoch na mBallstát a chuireann an fhoireann ar bun faoi na coinníollacha ginearálta seo a leanas:

(a) Beidh i gceannas ar an bhfoireann ionadaí ón údarás inniúil atá rannpháirteach in imscrúduithe coiriúla ón mBallstát ina bhfuil an fhoireann ag oibriú. Gníomhóidh ceannaire na foirne laistigh de theorainneacha a (h)inniúlachta faoin dlí náisiúnta.

(b) Cuirfidh an fhoireann a cuid oibríochtaí i gcrích i gcomhréir le dlí an Bhallstáit ina bhfuil sí ag oibriú. Cuirfidh baill na foirne a gcuid cúraimí i gcrích faoi cheannaireacht an duine dá dtagraítear i bhfomhír (a), ag féachaint do na coinníollacha arna socrú ag a gcuid údarás féin sa chomhaontú maidir leis an bhfoireann a chur ar bun.

(c) Déanfaidh an Ballstát ina bhfuil an fhoireann ag oibriú na socruithe eagrúcháin is gá chuige sin.

4. Sa Treoirchinneadh seo, deirtear go bhfuil na baill den fhoireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú ó Bhallstáit seachas an Ballstát ina bhfuil an fhoireann ag oibriú “ar iasacht” don fhoireann.

5. Beidh na baill atá ar iasacht den fhoireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú i dteideal bheith i láthair nuair a ghlactar bearta um imscrúdú sa Bhallstát ina bhfuil an oibríocht ar siúl. Ar a shon sin, féadfaidh ceannaire na foirne, ar chúiseanna ar leith, i gcomhréir le dlí an Bhallstáit ina bhfuil an fhoireann ag oibriú, a mhalairt a chinneadh.

6. Féadfaidh ceannaire na foirne, i gcomhréir le dlí an Bhallstáit ina bhfuil an fhoireann ag oibriú, an cúram a chur ar bhaill atá ar iasacht den fhoireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú bearta áirithe um imscrúdú a ghlacadh má tá a leithéid formheasta ag na húdaráis inniúla i mBallstát na hoibríochta agus sa Bhallstát a thug ar iasacht iad.

7. Má theastaíonn ónn bhfoireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú go nglactar bearta um imscrúdú i gceann de na Ballstáit a chuireann an fhoireann ar bun, féadfaidh baill atá ar iasacht don fhoireann ag an mBallstát sin a iarraidh ar a n-údaráis inniúla féin na bearta sin a ghlacadh. Breithneofar na bearta sin sa Bhallstát sin faoi na coinníollacha a bheadh infheidhme dá n-iarrfaí iad in imscrúdú náisiúnta.

8. Má theastaíonn ón bhfoireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú cúnamh a fháil ó Bhallstát seachas iad sin a chuir an fhoireann ar bun, nó ó thríú Stát, féadfaidh na húdaráis inniúla i Stát na n-oibríochtaí an iarraidh ar chúnamh a dhéanamh ar na húdaráis inniúla sa Stát eile i dtrácht i gcomhréir leis na hionstraimí nó socruithe ábhartha.

9. Féadfaidh ball den fhoireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú, i gcomhréir leis an dlí náisiúnta aige/aici agus laistigh de theorainneacha a (h)inniúlachta, faisnéis atá ar fáil sa Bhallstát a thug ar iasacht é/í a sholáthar don fhoireann ar mhaithe leis na himscrúduithe coiriúla arna seoladh ag an bhfoireann.

10. Faisnéis arna fáil go dleathach ag ball nó ag ball atá ar iasacht le linn dó/di bheith ina c(h)uid d'fhoireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú agus nach bhfuil ar fáil ar shlí eile do na húdaráis inniúla sna Ballstáit i dtrácht, féadfar í a úsáid chun na gcríoch seo a leanas:

(a) ar mhaithe leis na críocha ar cuireadh an fhoireann ar bun ina leith;

(b) faoi réir toiliú roimh ré ón mBallstát ina bhfuarthas an fhaisnéis, chun cionta coiriúla eile a bhrath, a imscrúdú agus a ionchúiseamh. Ní fhéadfar an toiliú sin a dhiúltú ach amháin i gcásanna ina ndochródh úsáid na faisnéise sin imscrúduithe coiriúla sa Bhallstát i dtrácht nó ina bhféadfadh an Ballstát sin cúnamh frithpháirteach a dhiúltú ina leith;

(c) chun bagairt láithreach thromchúiseach ar an tslándáil phoiblí a chosc agus gan dochar d'fhomhír (b) má osclaítear imscrúdú coiriúil iardain;

(d) chun críoch eile a mhéad atá a leithéid comhaontaithe idir na Ballstáit a chuireann an fhoireann ar bun.

11. Beidh an Treoirchinneadh seo gan dochar d'aon fhorálacha nó socruithe eile atá ann maidir le cur ar bun nó oibríocht foirne comhpháirteacha um imscrúdú.

12. A mhéad a cheadaíonn dlíthe na mBallstát i dtrácht nó forálacha aon ionstraime dlí is infheidhme eatarthu iad, féadfar socruithe a chomhaontú chun go dtig le daoine seachas ionadaithe do na húdaráis inniúla sna Ballstáit a chuireann an fhoireann chomhpháirteach um imscrúdú ar bun páirt a ghlacadh i ngníomhaíochtaí na foirne. Féadfar a áireamh ar na daoine sin, mar shampla, oifigigh do chomhlachtaí arna gcur ar bun de bhun an Chonartha. Na cearta arna dtabhairt do na baill den fhoireann nó do na baill atá ar iasacht den fhoireann de bhua an Treoirchinnidh seo, ní bheidh siad infheidhme ar na daoine sin mura conraítear a mhalairt go sainráite sa chomhaontú.

Airteagal 2

Dliteanas coiriúil maidir le hoifigigh

Le linn na n-oibríochtaí dá dtagraítear in Airteagal 1, measfar go bhfuil oifigigh ó Bhallstát seachas Ballstát na hoibríochta ina n-oifigigh do Bhallstát na hoibríochta maidir le cionta arna ndéanamh ina gcoinne nó arna ndéanamh acu.

Airteagal 3

Dliteanas sibhialta maidir le hoifigigh

1. Nuair atá oifigigh do Bhallstát, i gcomhréir le hAirteagal 1, ag oibriú i mBallstát eile, beidh an chéad Bhallstát freagrach as aon damáiste arna dhéanamh acu le linn a gcuid oibríochtaí, i gcomhréir le dlí an Bhallstáit a bhfuil siad ag oibriú ar a chríoch.

2. An Ballstát ar ar a chríoch a rinneadh an damáiste dá dtagraítear i mír 1, slánóidh sé an damáiste sin faoi na coinníollacha is infheidhme ar dhamáiste arna dhéanamh ag a chuid oifigeach féin.

3. An Ballstát arbh iad a chuid oifigeach a rinne damáiste d'aon duine ar chríoch Ballstáit eile, cúiteoidh sé go hiomlán leis an mBallstát eile sin aon suimeanna atá íoctha aige leis na híospartaigh nó le daoine a bhí ina dteideal thar a gceann.

4. Gan dochar d'fheidhmiú a cheart i leith tríú páirtithe agus amach ó mhír 3, staonfaidh gach Ballstát, sa chás dá bhforáiltear i

mír 1, ó chúiteamh damáistí atá fulaingthe aige a iarraidh ar Bhallstát eile.

Airteagal 4

Cur chun feidhme

1. Glacfaidh na Ballstáit na bearta is gá chun forálacha an Treoirchinnidh seo a chomhlíonadh faoi 1 Eanáir 2003.

2. Tarchuirfidh na Ballstáit chuig Ardrúnaíocht na Comhairle agus chuig an gCoimisiún téacs aon fhorálacha a thrasuíonn ina ndlí náisiúnta na hoibleagáidí arna bhforchur orthu faoin Treoirchinneadh seo. Ar an mbonn sin agus ar bhonn aon fhaisnéise eile, cuirfidh an Coimisiún, faoi 1 Iúil 2004, tuarascáil faoi bhráid na Comhairle maidir le hoibríocht an Treoirchinnidh seo. Déanfaidh an Chomhairle a mheas a mhéad atá an Treoirchinneadh seo comhlíonta ag na Ballstáit.

Airteagal 5

Teacht i bhfeidhm

Tiocfaidh an Treoirchinneadh seo i bhfeidhm ar lá a fhoilsithe in Iris Oifigiúil na gComhphobal Eorpach. Scoirfidh sé d'aon éifeacht a bheith aige nuair atá an Coinbhinsiún um Chúnamh Frithpháirteach in Ábhair Choiriúla idir Ballstáit an Aontais Eorpaigh tagtha i bhfeidhm sna Ballstáit uile.

Arna dhéanamh i Lucsamburg, an 13 Meitheamh 2002.

 

Thar ceann na Comhairle

An tUachtarán

M. RAJOY BREY

PART 2

COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 2002/465/JHA

of 13 June 2002

on joint investigation teams

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the European Union, and in particular Article 34(2)(b) thereof,

Having regard to the initiative of the Kingdom of Belgium, the French Republic, the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom1 ,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament2 ,

Whereas:

(1) One of the Union's objectives is to provide citizens with a high level of safety within an area of freedom, security and justice and this objective is to be achieved by preventing and combating crime through closer co-operation between police forces, customs authorities and other competent authorities in the Member States, while respecting the principles of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law on which the Union is founded and which are common to the Member States.

(2) The European Council held in Tampere on 15 and 16 October 1999 called for joint investigation teams as foreseen in the Treaty to be set up without delay, as a first step, to combat trafficking in drugs and human beings as well as terrorism.

(3) Provision has been made in Article 13 of the Convention established by the Council in accordance with Article 34 of the Treaty on European Union on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union3 for the establishment and operation of joint investigation teams.

(4) The Council urges that all measures be taken to ensure that this Convention is ratified as soon as possible, and in any event in the course of 2002.

(5) The Council recognises that it is important to respond quickly to the European Council's call for the setting up of joint investigative teams without delay.

(6) The Council considers that for the purpose of combating international crime as effectively as possible, it is appropriate that at this stage a specific legally binding instrument on joint investigation teams should be adopted at the level of the Union which should apply to joint investigations into trafficking in drugs and human beings as well as terrorism.

(7) The Council considers that such teams should be set up, as a matter of priority, to combat offences committed by terrorists.

(8) The Member States that set up a team should decide on its composition, purpose and duration.

(9) The Member States setting up a team should have the possibility to decide, where possible and in accordance with applicable law, to let persons not representing the competent authorities of Member States take part in the activities of the team, and that such persons may include representatives of, for example, Europol, the Commission (OLAF) or representatives of authorities of non Member States, and in particular representatives of law enforcement authorities of the United States. In such cases the agreement setting up the team should specify issues relating to possible liability for such representatives.

(10) A joint investigating team should operate in the territory of a Member State in conformity with the law applicable to that Member State.

(11) This Framework Decision should be without prejudice to any other existing provisions or arrangements on the setting up or operation of joint investigation teams,

HAS ADOPTED THIS FRAMEWORK DECISION:

Article 1

Joint investigation teams

1. By mutual agreement, the competent authorities of two or more Member States may set up a joint investigation team for a specific purpose and a limited period, which may be extended by mutual consent, to carry out criminal investigations in one or more of the Member States setting up the team. The composition of the team shall be set out in the agreement.

A joint investigation team may, in particular, be set up where:

(a) a Member State's investigations into criminal offences require difficult and demanding investigations having links with other Member States;

(b) a number of Member States are conducting investigations into criminal offences in which the circumstances of the case necessitate coordinated, concerted action in the Member States involved.

A request for the setting up of a joint investigation team may be made by any of the Member States concerned. The team shall be set up in one of the Member States in which the investigations are expected to be carried out.

2. In addition to the information referred to in the relevant provisions of Article 14 of the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Article 37 of the Benelux Treaty of 27 June 1962, as amended by the Protocol of 11 May 1974, requests for the setting up of a joint investigation team shall include proposals for the composition of the team.

3. A joint investigation team shall operate in the territory of the Member States setting up the team under the following general conditions:

(a) The leader of the team shall be a representative of the competent authority participating in criminal investigations from the Member State in which the team operates. The leader of the team shall act within the limits of his or her competence under national law.

(b) The team shall carry out its operations in accordance with the law of the Member State in which it operates. The members of the team shall carry out their tasks under the leadership of the person referred to in subparagraph (a), taking into account the conditions set by their own authorities in the agreement on setting up the team.

(c) The Member State in which the team operates shall make the necessary organisational arrangements for it to do so.

4. In this Framework Decision, members of the joint investigation team from Member States other than the Member State in which the team operates are referred to as being “seconded” to the team.

5. Seconded members of the joint investigation team shall be entitled to be present when investigative measures are taken in the Member State of operation. However, the leader of the team may, for particular reasons, in accordance with the law of the Member State where the team operates, decide otherwise.

6. Seconded members of the joint investigation team may, in accordance with the law of the Member State where the team operates, be entrusted by the leader of the team with the task of taking certain investigative measures where this has been approved by the competent authorities of the Member State of operation and the seconding Member State.

7. Where the joint investigation team needs investigative measures to be taken in one of the Member States setting up the team, members seconded to the team by that Member State may request their own competent authorities to take those measures. Those measures shall be considered in that Member State under the conditions which would apply if they were requested in a national investigation.

8. Where the joint investigation team needs assistance from a Member State other than those which have set up the team, or from a third State, the request for assistance may be made by the competent authorities of the State of operations to the competent authorities of the other State concerned in accordance with the relevant instruments or arrangements.

9. A member of the joint investigation team may, in accordance with his or her national law and within the limits of his or her competence, provide the team with information available in the Member State which has seconded him or her for the purpose of the criminal investigations conducted by the team.

10. Information lawfully obtained by a member or seconded member while part of a joint investigation team which is not otherwise available to the competent authorities of the Member States concerned may be used for the following purposes:

(a) for the purposes for which the team has been set up;

(b) subject to the prior consent of the Member State where the information became available, for detecting, investigating and prosecuting other criminal offences. Such consent may be withheld only in cases where such use would endanger criminal investigations in the Member State concerned or in respect of which that Member State could refuse mutual assistance;

(c) for preventing an immediate and serious threat to public security, and without prejudice to subparagraph (b) if subsequently a criminal investigation is opened;

(d) for other purposes to the extent that this is agreed between Member States setting up the team.

9. This Framework Decision shall be without prejudice to any other existing provisions or arrangements on the setting up or operation of joint investigation teams.

12. To the extent that the laws of the Member States concerned or the provisions of any legal instrument applicable between them permit, arrangements may be agreed for persons other than representatives of the competent authorities of the Member States setting up the joint investigation team to take part in the activities of the team. Such persons may, for example, include officials of bodies set up pursuant to the Treaty. The rights conferred upon the members or seconded members of the team by virtue of this Framework Decision shall not apply to these persons unless the agreement expressly states otherwise.

Article 2

Criminal liability regarding officials

During the operations referred to in Article 1, officials from a Member State other than the Member State of operation shall be regarded as officials of the Member State of operation with respect to offences committed against them or by them.

Article 3

Civil liability regarding officials

1. Where, in accordance with Article 1, officials of a Member State are operating in another Member State, the first Member State shall be liable for any damage caused by them during their operations, in accordance with the law of the Member State in whose territory they are operating.

2. The Member State in whose territory the damage referred to in paragraph 1 was caused shall make good such damage under the conditions applicable to damage caused by its own officials.

3. The Member State whose officials have caused damage to any person in the territory of another Member State shall reimburse the latter in full any sums it has paid to the victims or persons entitled on their behalf.

4. Without prejudice to the exercise of its rights vis-à-vis third parties and with the exception of paragraph 3, each Member State shall refrain, in the case provided for in paragraph 1, from requesting reimbursement of damages it has sustained from another Member State.

Article 4

Implementation

1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to comply with the provisions of this Framework Decision by 1 January 2003.

2. Member States shall transmit to the General Secretariat of the Council and the Commission the text of any provisions transposing into their national law the obligations imposed on them under this Framework Decision. On the basis of this and other information, the Commission shall, by 1 July 2004, submit a report to the Council on the operation of this Framework Decision. The Council shall assess the extent to which the Member States have complied with this Framework Decision.

Article 5

Entry into force

This Framework Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal. It shall cease to have effect when the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between Member States of the European Union has entered into force in all Member States.

Done at Luxembourg, 13 June 2002.

For the Council

The President

M. RAJOY BREY

1 IO C 295, 20.10.2001, lch.9.

2 Tuairim arna tabhairt ar an 13 Samhain 2001 (nach bhfuil foilsithe fós san IO).

3 IO C 197, 12.7.2000, lch.1.

1 OJ C 295, 20.10.2001, p.9.

2 Opinion delivered on 13 November 2001 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

3 OJ C 197, 12.07.2000, p.1.