Anti-Corruption

High-ranking Czech delegation visits the BAK

On 18 June 2019, the first visit abroad by the Director of the "Inspectorate General of the Security Forces of the Czech Republic (GIBS)" took him to the Austrian Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAK). Mr. Radim Dragoun had been appointed new Director of GIBS in September 2018. A representative of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Vienna accompanied the Czech delegation.

In addition to getting to know each other, the main purpose of the meeting was to explore the potential for bilateral cooperation and closer integration of GIBS into the current projects and working groups of the European anti-corruption networks EPAC/EACN.

After a brief presentation of the BAK's various areas of responsibility by the Director of BAK and President of EPAC/EACN, Mr. Andreas Wieselthaler, the guests were particularly interested in the BAK's wide range of prevention and education services, such as activities to raise awareness among young people, including police trainees; in the topics of ethics, prevention of and fight against corruption and targeted training to prepare for (further) working life. The area of prevention at the Czech authority is currently being established.

Mr. Dragoun later presented the organization, competence and structure of the GIBS. The main task of the authority is to conduct internal investigations against members of police, customs and prison system. From a content point of view, the field of activity of reliability testing was highlighted in particular.

The successful meeting ended with GIBS's commitment to participate in this year's EPAC/EACN Annual Professional Conference and General Assembly and a return invitation from the Czech colleagues.