Abstract
This article reports results of a study identifying and analyzing the 17 homicides (from a total 696 recorded non-terrorist homicides) committed as part of organized crime in England and Wales in 2005-2006. Homicides related to organized crime were found to follow from inter group rivalries, tensions within the same organized crime group, or police/citizen resistance during armed robbery. The motivations of the homicides can be broadly categorized as instrumental or expressive. Suggestions are made for further research on the conditions surrounding such homicides and on the relative rarity of organized crime related homicides in Britain.
Highlights
Despite the widespread view that organized crime and violence are commonly associated, little academic research has considered the extent to which homicides are linked to organized crime groups and how the incidents are generated
This paper presents the findings of research that operationalized a definition of organized crime in order to explore the extent to which organized crime groups in England commit homicide, the sources of such conflict and the motivations for the use of fatal violence
For the purpose of this research, to mitigate the risk of excluding any homicide cases where organized crime groups were involved, an inclusive definition of organized crime was used. Even when utilizing such an inclusionary definition, the data suggest the use of fatal violence by organized crime groups in England is relatively rare
Summary
Despite the widespread view that organized crime and violence are commonly associated, little academic research has considered the extent to which homicides are linked to organized crime groups and how the incidents are generated. In 13 cases (1.9 % of the total sample), the homicide was thought to be the direct result of organized crime activity, but the groups in question tended to operate as loose networks rather than having a formal, recognisable structure. Their forms of conflict, co-operation and co-offending were quite anarchic, reflecting shared criminal lifestyles rather than anything resembling membership of a recognisable, purposive, enduring group which plans crime in a systematic way. These groups committed well-planned robberies and often travelled long distances to commit specific offenses
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