Week 8 (B) : POLICING ORGANISED CRIMES Flashcards
According to the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy 2013, how is ‘organised crime’ defined in England and Wales?
Organised crime is serious crime planned, coordinated, and conducted by people working together on a continuing basis.
The motivation for organized crime is often, but not always, financial gain
Despite the UN Transnational Organised Crime Convention 2000, what challenges exist regarding the definition of ‘organised crime’?
There is no analytically satisfactory definition of organized crime.
The boundaries of organized crime, as formally defined by the UN convention, remain unclear.
What is the challenge highlighted in the context of crimes like product counterfeiting, contraband of licit products, and frauds against financial services?
There is a problem of persuading the media and the public to take these crimes seriously.
In shaping public perception, what tactics do corporations and governments, as ‘primary definers,’ often employ for crimes like tax evasion and frauds against financial services?
They associate these crimes with ‘organised crime’ or direct harm to individuals.
‘Bad people’ (Mafia-type/terrorists) are portrayed as the ones committing these crimes, using the funds for more serious offenses like drugs trafficking and terrorism.
Legitimate people are affected by paying more for services or experiencing violations of personal space, such as identity fraud and cybercrimes.
which groups often face demonization, and how is the imagery of ‘organised crime’ portrayed in relation to them?
Mafia/Triad types are often demonized regardless of their activities.
The imagery of ‘organised crime’ is often depicted as ‘moving in on commerce.’
How are famous corporate or individual names portrayed in the media, and what is mentioned about their stories?
amous corporate or individual names may be subject to ‘fall from grace’ stories, which can be either hostile or sympathetic.
There may be a counter-attack on biased or careerist prosecutors, as seen in cases involving individuals like Abramovich, Berlusconi, and Trump.
According to the Home Office SOC Strategy 2018, what are the three key objectives outlined to address serious and organized crime?
Prevent people from engaging in serious and organized crime.
Protect victims, organizations, and systems from its harms.
Prepare for when it occurs, mitigating the impact.
According to the Home Office SOC Strategy 2018, what are the key elements that demonstrate the success in raising the risk for the highest harm criminals and networks?
New data and intelligence capabilities targeting and disrupting serious and organized criminals and networks.
Embedding partnerships and working practices in the UK to sharpen and accelerate the response.
Increasing collaboration with overseas partners to target serious and organized crime affecting the UK.
Arresting and prosecuting key serious and organized criminals, stopping their abuse, denying and recovering their money and assets, dismantling their networks, and breaking their business model.
What legal tools and statutes do policing bodies, such as the Department of Justice and State & local prosecutors, utilize in the USA?
Legal tools include ‘Wire fraud’ investigations on cross-border movement of moneys.
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute, introduced in 1970, is used against enterprise crime and has been applied in cases involving ‘the Trump gang’ in Georgia.
The Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 requires bank currency filings.
What are the outcomes that the Home Office aims to achieve as part of its strategy?
Communities, individuals, and organizations reporting improved protection and better ability to protect themselves.
Better support for victims to recover from abuse or exploitation.
Reduction in the engagement of young people in criminal activity or reoffending.
According to the information provided, what challenges do international efforts against organized crime face, and why is the EU considered the most efficient mechanism?
Challenges include bridging differing languages, legal systems, cultures, and crime problems.
The EU is considered the most efficient mechanism, but common law systems (UK, Ireland, US, Commonwealth) fit poorly with civil law systems.
According to Europol and UN, what are the criteria that define organized crime?
Collaboration of more than two people.
Suspected of the commission of serious criminal offenses.
Taking place over a prolonged or indefinite period of time.
For the pursuit of profit or power.
What are some powers granted to police in England and Wales, specifically regulated by the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016?
Telephone-tapping and bugging, with recordings from authorized ‘bugs’ and foreign-only phone tap evidence being admissible in court.
Under what circumstances can a customs officer or a constable seize cash at the borders or inland in England and Wales?
A customs officer or a constable may seize cash if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that the cash is recoverable property (crime proceeds) or intended for use in unlawful conduct, and if the sum seized is more than £1,000.
According to the information, what is the potential impact of criminal network analysis technologies on law enforcement efforts?
Criminal network analysis technologies can have an impact on targeted enforcement, specifically against ‘core nominals’ within criminal networks.
