Globalisation

Question 1

overview

Answer 1

Held et al suggest there has also been a globalisation of crime – an increasing interconnectedness of crime across national borders. Transnational organised crime has spread as new opportunities for crime, new means of committing crime & new offences have come about.

Question 2

growth

Answer 2

According to the United Nations Development Programme, globalisation has resulted in a massive growth in the following forms of crime:

▪ dealing in illicit drugs 
▪ illegal trafficking in weapons ▪ illegal trafficking in human beings
▪ corruption 
▪ violent crimes, including terrorism 1 
▪ war crimes. 

The importance of this can be seen by the fact that the total value of transnational organised crime is estimated by the United Nations to be approximately £1 trillion per year.

Question 3

A03

Answer 3

However, globalisation has also had some benefits in terms of tackling crime. With greater international cooperation between police forces & the more widespread use of extradition agreements (in which suspects can be returned to countries where they are suspected of committing offences) it has become easier to track & prosecute offenders. In 1992 Europol was established to coordinate European policing & since 9/11, sharing of information between US & European governments has greatly increased (Newburn & Reiner, 2012). Many western countries are also making greater efforts to prevent money laundering (partly to combat terrorism) which is essential to tackling transnational organised crime.