“Pecunia Olet” (Sometimes): A comparative analysis of Italian and UK legislations on combating the infiltration of organised crime into the economy

Abstract

This article conducts a comparative analysis of Italian and UK legislations concerning the infiltration of organised crime into the economy. Considering (among other things) the concerns about allegedly weakened cooperation between judicial authorities of Italy and the UK in a post-Brexit era, the study evaluates the alignment of legal frameworks of the compared systems in combating the integration of organised crime and economic crime. The analysis is conducted on four levels: direct criminalisation of organised crime, the use of (also) anti-terrorism legislation to tackle organised crime, measures against wealth accumulation through crime, and provisions for corporate liability. By comparing the legal systems of Italy and the UK, which represent civil and common law traditions respectively, this study aims to identify convergences and divergences in legal approaches. The findings could inform strategies for enhancing mutual trust and fostering more effective international cooperation in combating the infiltration of organised crime into legitimate businesses, particularly in the post-Brexit context.