Dr Piotr Chlebowicz, Professor at the University of Warmia and Mazury (UWM) in Olsztyn from the Department of Criminology and Forensic Science, has been conducting research into how criminals try to avoid detection and prosecution by the police. He presented their results at the XXXV Criminological Seminar of the Baltic States in the Estonian capital Tallinn.

‘Counter-detection activities are the subject of a project I have been involved in for the past few years, and my two books are its aftermath’, said Prof Chlebowicz.

The aim of the UWM scientist was to try to describe counter-discovery activities and to give a university dimension to the problem. 

‘In the case of advanced criminal groups, we can talk about a whole system of activities that do not always qualify for criminal proceedings’, he explained, adding that repeat offenders use self-control, avoid flaunting their assets or use devices that capture the use of operational control measures against them.