Switzerland's best financial crime experts are taking part in the 60th International Course on Criminology in Neuchâtel. It is the first time Switzerland has hosted the meeting.

Pierre-Henri Bolle, vice-president of the International Society for Criminology said recent events make the course very timely.

"The terrorist attacks on the United States and terrorist organisations' financial resources have caught up with us," he said, adding that "The field of financial investigation is likely to develop."

The Swiss authorities' decision to hire 400 to 500 highly-qualified investigators specialising in finance and organised crime adds further evidence of the field's growth.

Banking, insurance represented

The conference, entitled "Financial Crime", hosts 300 of Switzerland's best financial investigators. Post-graduate students from Neuchâtel and Lucerne's institutes for economic crime - 100 in total - are taking part in the meeting to establish contacts with professionals.

Members of the judicial and police administration are also attending the conference, along with bank and insurance representatives.

The Criminology society is a non-governmental organisation which acts as a consultant for the United Nations and the Council of Europe.

swissinfo with agencies

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative