8. pants

Prevention of

corruption

The National Customs Board

acknowledges that prevention of corruption is required in the

Customs Service, and will implement the following measures in

order to reduce the incidence of, and opportunity for,

corruption:

• to develop customs internal

audit as an effective means in the fight against corrupted

customs officers;

• to develop and implement the

Customs Officer's Code of Conduct on the basis of the SRS Code of

Ethics;

• to review disciplinary measures

and to supply such information to all managers;

• to review the recruiting,

training, and pay structures of the Customs Service;

• in reviewing organisation and

procedures, to consider ways of reducing the opportunity for

corruption;

• to encourage importers (through

the medium of the Customs Consultative Council) to form "Islands

of Integrity", reporting incidents of possible corruption to the

National Customs Board;

• to submit material to law

enforcement institutions for criminal inquiry against officers

who are considered being involved in corruption.

Conclusion

The Customs Service of the

Republic of Latvia has a major task ahead of it to achieve its

aim to become a service, which can be favourably compared with

the best customs services of the European Union.

This document indicates a firm

commitment by the Latvian Customs to commence and to implement an

intensive program of change. The strategic direction of the

service will be subject to change, so will the Customs Business

Strategy need to reflect those changes. Therefore it will be

reviewed at regular intervals to ensure its continuing compliance

with policy and priorities of the Government of the Republic of

Latvia.