When opportunity knocks: mobilizing capabilities on serious organized economic crime

Abstract

This paper is primarily concerned with organized crime structures and how they adapt and modify to take advantage of fraud opportunities. It is illustrated with case studies which show a growing capability within UK organized crime to pool and deploy criminal monies in legitimate markets. The theme and purpose of the paper is to raise awareness of this in a way that encourages collaborative and strategic responses from law enforcement and relevant institutions, including academia. Impact The accumulation of criminal funds under the guise of legitimate funds is not something that should be tolerated and accepted as a necessary evil of the modern world. Markets and economies are, however, increasingly vulnerable to the corrosive and corruptive effects of serious organized crime. Using real-life case studies, this paper explains why a raised awareness of societal and professional attitudes is required to more effectively tackle the problem of serious organized economic crime and how the problem needs to be prioritized as a national strategic challenge. The paper will have value to law enforcement and policy- and law-makers worldwide.