OLAF publishes investigations manual

OLAF, the European Union’s (EU) anti-fraud unit, has published its detailed investigations manual, after a European Parliament hearing in July called for its work to be governed by an EU regulation. The aim of the manual, said an OLAF statement, is to forestall legal challenges to its procedures; it clarifies the rights of whistleblowers, witnesses and others affected by an inquiry and sets out step-by-step how OLAF investigators are to carry out their duties. The manual covers almost all of OLAF’s work, from its powers and tasks, and the authority of its director general to humdrum matters such as badges and parking. It also lists the structure of its internal organisation, including sub-divisions of its three main directorates: ‘A’ on policy, legislation and legal affairs; ‘B’ on investigations and operations; and ‘C’ on intelligence, operational strategy and information sources.