Law Enforcement Challenges Research Articles

Synthetic Cathinones' Comprehensive Screening and Classification by Voltammetric and Chemometric Analyses: A Powerful Method for On-Site Forensic Applications.

The use of synthetic cathinones (SCs) has increased in recent years, posing significant public health problems due to their adverse effects and potential for fatal poisonings. The structural diversity and rapid emergence of new SC analogues create challenges for law enforcement and drug screening techniques. This work presents for the first time the electrochemical detection of SCs using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) on a boron-doped diamond electrode (BDDE). We analyzed 15 SCs, including well-known compounds such as mephedrone, methylone, and ephylone, revealing distinct electrochemical profiles with two characteristic reduction peaks (R1 and R2). The method was optimized in Britton-Robinson buffer (0.1 mol L-1, pH 8.0) and demonstrated a high selectivity and sensitivity. Multivariate statistical methods, including principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, classified SCs into six distinct groups. The DPV optimization and analytical parameter determination, including the limit of detection (LOD), were performed for the least electroactive SC, 4'-methyl-α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone, yielding an LOD of 3.8 μmol L-1, suitable for screening street samples. Interference studies with common illicit drugs and adulterants confirmed the selectivity of the DPV-BDDE method. Preliminary identification of SCs in 46 real seized samples was successfully performed using this method with results validated by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The method also identified three SCs not included in the original set: bupropion, benzylone, and dipentylone. The DPV-BDDE method offers a rapid, robust, and portable approach for the selective screening of SCs in forensic applications, demonstrating significant advantages over traditional colorimetric tests.

PREDICTIVE POLICING BY BHABINKAMTIBMAS AS A SOLUTION TO ADDRESS CRIMINALITY IN CILEMPUNG VILLAGE, PASIRJAYA, KARAWANG

The Karawang Regency faces a significant increase in the number of crimes, being a major concern due to its disruptive impact on the community as well as serious challenges for law enforcement and local governments. In order to respond to the various problems faced by Bhabinkamtibmas in the field, support and strengthening are needed with the right policing program. The research contributes to the field of public security by introducing a Predictive Policing framework tailored to the needs of Cilempung Village, Karawang, utilizing information technology and data analysis to identify crime patterns and predict potential crimes. The study provides insights into the factors influencing crime rates and offers practical strategies for implementing predictive polcing in local communities, ultimately aiming to enhance public safety and maintain social order.

Editorial: Cryptocurrency and crime: old crimes committed in new ways, or a new order of challenges for law enforcement?

Editorial: Cryptocurrency and crime: old crimes committed in new ways, or a new order of challenges for law enforcement?

Improving the Law Enforcement Response to Active Shooter Incidents: An Analysis of After-Action Reports

We examine all publicly available after-action reports (AARs) on active shooter incidents in the U.S. from 1999 through 2022 ( n = 31). We conduct a thematic analysis of recommendations provided in the AARs to identify common areas for improvement in the law enforcement response to these incidents. We find considerable overlap in the recommendations across AARs, with themes related to pre-incident planning, training, inter-agency coordination, incident command, and communication being the most common. Findings indicate recurring challenges for law enforcement, suggesting agencies may not be effectively learning from prior active shooter incidents. We discuss the potential of AARs to strengthen agency preparedness and promote organizational learning. We further provide recommendations to improve AARs and to centralize and disseminate their findings.

The Rise of Kidnappings in South Africa: Challenges for Law Enforcement

This paper examines the rise of kidnapping in South Africa. It aims to reflect on the challenges law enforcement faces in addressing what has quickly become a considerable societal problem. This paper employed secondary data as a data collection technique using narrative literature review. The rational choice theory was employed as a theoretical lens. Findings revealed that kidnapping in South Africa is driven by several issues, such as poverty, inequality, unemployment and the growth and consolidation of crime syndicates making millions in ransom fees. While South African law enforcement agencies claim to be making inroads in addressing kidnapping cases, they face considerable challenges, such as public mistrust, lack of support and the underreporting of kidnapping cases, making it hard to address the problem. South Africa is under pressure to ensure that legislation effectively addresses this issue. It is therefore recommended that the country establish and capacitate specialized kidnapping units that will work closely with community police forums, the community, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure seamless coordination in responding to the rise of kidnapping. Moreover, eradicating corruption within the police force will be an effective measure to help address the problem.

Indonesian Agrarian Reform in Legal Perspective: A Critical Analysis of Presidential Regulation NO. 86/2018

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the development of Indonesian law in the digital era, focusing on the impact of technology on the legal and judicial system, law enforcement challenges, and personal data protection.. Theoretical Framework: This research is grounded in theories of legal modernization and cyberlaw. The study examines how technological advancements influence legal structures and practices, providing a solid basis for understanding the evolution of Indonesia's legal system in the digital age. Method: The methodology adopted for this research comprises a qualitative, descriptive-analytical approach. Data collection was conducted through literature reviews of journals, books, legal regulations, and reports from related institutions. Results and Discussion: The results revealed significant changes due to technology, including the digitization of legal documents, the establishment of e-courts, and the development of cyberlaw, which have increased efficiency and accessibility. However, challenges such as the classification of cyber offenses and inadequate regulations to keep pace with technological advancements were identified. The discussion contextualizes these findings within the theoretical framework, highlighting the implications and relationships identified, and considers potential discrepancies and limitations of the study. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research include insights into improving legal processes and law enforcement in the digital era. These implications could impact regulatory frameworks and law enforcement practices in Indonesia.. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the transformative impact of technology on the Indonesian legal system. The originality of the research is evidenced by its focus on contemporary legal challenges and regulatory gaps in the digital era, offering valuable insights for policymakers and legal practitioners.

Urgensi Etika Dalam Literasi Digital Di Era Globalisasi

The purpose of this studywas to describe the importance of ethics in the context of digital literacy in the current era of globalization. By understanding the importance of ethics in digital literacy, it is hoped that this research can provide insights regarding optimizing the benefits of digital technology based on the principles of digital ethics.This research uses a library research method; the data is collected from source books, research articles, and other sources relevant to the topic discussed.The library research results showed that digital literacy has a very important role in facing complex challenges in the current era of globalization. Ethics in digital literacy acts as a guideline in using technology so that it has positive effects and minimizes negative effects. Awareness of digital responsibility is the foundation for a smarter and more empowered society in this digital era. Digital literacy ethics are very important in several ways, such as preventing the spread of false information, fighting cyberbullying and harassing speech, and respecting user privacy. Challenges in implementing digital literacy ethics include a lack of awareness of digital ethics, inequality in access and mastery of technology, regulatory and law enforcement challenges, and the role of education in overcoming challenges. Therefore, the importance of ethics in digital literacy and the role of education is crucial to overcoming various challenges that arise along with the development of technology and information.

Monitoring public perceptions of contaminated sites based on social media

Contaminated sites have a negative impact on human health and the ecological environment, which can potentially lead to major pollution incidents, and frequently receive complaints and reports from the public. Therefore, monitoring public perceptions of contaminated sites is crucial for risk management. However, methods based on traditional questionnaire surveys are limited in terms of time, cost, and target audience size. The purpose of this study was to establish a method using social media to monitor public perceptions of contaminated sites in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration. Thus, 6802 public opinions were collected from social media (mainly microblogs in China) and topic modeling and pollution and spatial mining techniques were employed. The topic modeling results indicated that public perceptions of contaminated sites mainly focused on the construction of prevention and control systems, law enforcement work, developments and challenges applicable to the coal industry, environmental public interest litigation (pertaining to pollution), pollution inspection and rectification, and green development and ecological governance, with intensities of 7.9%, 7.8%, 7.1%, 6.1%, 5.9%, and 4.8%, respectively. Three communities resulting from public opinions in the study area included “environment and pollution,” “enterprises,” and “environmental protection,” with proportions of 37.68%, 34.78%, and 27.54%, respectively. The field investigation results indicated that approximately 90% of the tweets in three typical cities (i.e., Taizhou City in Zhejiang Province and Wuxi and Changzhou Cities in Jiangsu Province) involved key industrial enterprises or contaminated sites located within 1 km of the surrounding areas. The emotional analysis indicated that >3401 tweets dealt with a pollution probability (i.e., the possibility of potentially contaminated sites mentioned in social media becoming contaminated sites) exceeding 0.90 for the period 2011–2021. This finding suggests that the pollution probability for the sites involved in these tweets was high. Our study provides methodological references for monitoring public perceptions of contaminated sites for large-scale, long-term, and high-resolution studies.

Factors Affecting Anti-Corruption Efforts in Vietnam

Corruption is a common phenomenon in all countries, prompting the establishment of various political, legal, and technical measures to combat it. Vietnam, a rising country in science, technology, economy, and politics, is experiencing an increasing prevalence of corruption at all levels, from local to central. Despite many stringent anti-corruption measures taken by the State and the Party of Vietnam, the results have not been satisfactory. This article provides an overview of the current situation of corruption in Vietnam and analyzes factors preventing the effective and efficient implementation of anti-corruption measures. These factors include political-legal and sociocultural influences, criminal and disciplinary measures, law enforcement challenges, investigation rights, the independence, objectivity, and impartiality in anti-corruption work, as well as the coordination of these efforts.

DECIPHERING THE DRIVERS OF PERSISTENT CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IN INDIA: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY

Persistent criminal behavior remains a significant societal concern in India, with its multifaceted nature posing challenges for law enforcement and policymakers. This comprehensive study aims to unravel the underlying factors contributing to such behavior, offering insights into the complex interplay of social, economic, and psychological variables. Drawing upon extensive research and empirical evidence, this study examines various determinants, including socio-economic disparities, cultural influences, family dynamics, and individual psychosocial factors. By exploring the interconnectedness of these variables, we strive to provide a nuanced understanding of the drivers behind persistent criminal conduct in India. Additionally, this study discusses implications for crime prevention strategies and intervention programs tailored to address the root causes of criminal behavior.

Will automated vehicles encourage more jaywalking? Results from a stated preference survey

When interacting with driverless cars, pedestrians might be emboldened to jaywalk knowing the vehicles will slow down for them automatically. Increased jaywalking might disrupt traffic flow and pose challenges for traffic law enforcement. Few studies examined pedestrians’ attitudes toward driverless cars’ safety implication, management strategies for the interactions between pedestrians and driverless cars, and how pedestrians would expect their street crossing behavior to change in the presence of driverless cars. We conducted an online stated preference survey of 1,000 residents in the Philadelphia and the Seattle metropolitan areas to investigate respondents’ attitudes toward driverless cars and their preferences of jaywalking under different driverless car saturation levels. Through descriptive data analysis and multilevel binomial logit analysis, we found that overall pedestrians felt less safe with driverless cars on the road. Pedestrians preferred limiting the speeds of driverless cars or disabling driverless functions in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic to increasing enforcement for jaywalking laws. Multilevel binomial logit analysis showed pedestrians were more likely to jaywalk in the presence of driverless cars in high visibility and low traffic volume, and were deterred by bigger, faster streets. Respondents’ current crossing behavior might serve as an indicator of their crossing behavior in the presence of driverless cars. Our findings remind cities that sound street design strategies could help to ensure safer interactions between pedestrians and driverless cars and greater acceptance of driverless cars on urban streets.

Classifying missing persons cases: an analysis of police risk assessments using multi-dimensional scaling

ABSTRACT Missing persons cases present a complex challenge for law enforcement globally and require a nuanced understanding of their typologies. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of cases from the United Kingdom, from within a single police service, focusing on the alignment of police missing person risk assessment (RA) factors with existing typologies. Utilizing data exclusively from nearly 5000 police RAs, the study undertakes a multi-stage analysis, examining RA factors for congruence with established typologies and exploring data subsets based on gender, case outcomes, and risk gradings. Using Jaccard’s similarity coefficient and smallest space analysis (SSA), the study interprets and visualizes the cases to explore relationships. Results are reported using visual and descriptive statistics. Key findings include confirmation of alignment to existing typologies and research that has identified ‘unintentional – accidental/drift’ as the dominant missing person typology, identifying it in 65% of the cases. Notably, the typology was also the dominant theme in 45% of the cases resulting in a harmful outcome and 42% graded as high-risk. Categorical nuances are identified within subsets, with 47% of long-term missing and 63% involving men relating to the intentional – dysfunctional typology. 31% of the cases involving females, and 30% and 45% of the cases graded as medium and no apparent risk, respectively, were dominated by the ‘intentional – escape’ typology. We discuss how these findings can be used to improve the police RA process and guide initial risk grading and case prioritization enhancing the understanding and response to missing person cases.

Firearm Access and Gun Violence Exposure Among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black Adults

American Indian or Alaska Native and Black adults experience elevated rates of firearm injury and death, but both groups are severely underrepresented in research on firearm exposure and behaviors. To explore geodemographic differences in firearm behaviors and violence exposure among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black adults in the US. In this survey study, nationally representative samples of American Indian or Alaska Native and/or Black adults recruited from KnowledgePanel were surveyed cross-sectionally. Surveys were administered online between April 12 and May 4, 2023. Firearm access, storage, and carrying behaviors and lifetime firearm violence exposure were the primary outcomes. Demographic factors such as age, geographic location, and political affiliation were considered. Data were weighted to geodemographic distributions from the US Census Bureau's 2022 Current Population Survey. Of 3542 participants, 527 (14.9%) were American Indian or Alaska Native (280 [53.1%] female) and 3015 (85.1%) were Black (1646 [54.6%] female). Both groups exhibited high firearm access rates (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 238 [45.4%; 95% CI, 39.4%-51.7%]; Black adults: 909 [30.4%; 95% CI, 28.0%-32.9%]), predominantly owning handguns for home protection. The groups demonstrated similar firearm storage patterns, and a substantial proportion endorsed always or almost always carrying firearms outside the home (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 18.9%; Black adults: 15.2%). Self-protection was a common reason for carrying a firearm (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 104 [84.9%; 95% CI, 74.1%-91.7%]; Black adults: 350 [88.3%; 95% CI, 82.3%-92.4%]), and a minority of participants cited lack of faith in the police (American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 19 [15.2%; 95% CI, 8.2%-26.7%]; Black adults: 61 [15.4%; 95% CI, 10.3%-21.2%]), indicating potential shifts in public safety dynamics. In this survey study of American Indian or Alaska Native and Black US adults, a substantial percentage of both groups reported living in homes with firearms, storing firearms loaded and unlocked, frequently carrying firearms outside the home, and having been exposed directly and indirectly to gun violence. These findings underscore the need for nuanced public health campaigns and policies and highlight challenges for law enforcement in contexts of racial disparities and changing legal frameworks.

Evaluation of Ship Recycling Industry in View of Present Global Circumstances and Way Forward

Ship recycling, commonly referred to as ship dismantling, is an inherently sustainable practice with global implications. It involves the reverse engineering process of disassembling obsolete ships to recover reusable materials in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. Over the past two decades, ships have predominantly been beached in South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, China, and Pakistan, allowing local yards to dismantle vessels with moderate preventive measures and substantial manual labor. Ship recycling stands as a significant and environmentally conscious industry, witnessing the annual recycling of approximately 1000 obsolete ships globally. Currently, this industry is predominantly led by three South Asian countries—India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. In Bangladesh, the industry commenced with the dismantling of stranded ships, evolving into a large and profitable sector that generates substantial employment opportunities for thousands of semi-skilled workers in poverty-prone areas. While the ship recycling industry presents opportunities, it also poses challenges for coastal zone management, encompassing environmental, law enforcement, and worker safety concerns. The surge in demand for ship recycling has prompted increased regulatory scrutiny at both national and international levels. This pressure culminated in the development of the Hong Kong International Convention (HKC) by the IMO in 2009, mandating safety and environmental protection standards at recycling yards. Achieving a perfectly green ship recycling process in line with European standards is inherently costly. However, a viable and almost green ship recycling approach, integrating the current common practice of beaching methods in Asian countries, is entirely feasible. Despite limitations and challenges, the industry significantly contributes to Bangladesh's GDP and the overall socio-economic landscape. Currently, there has been a visible reduction in Bangladesh's market share due to stringent environmental regulations, while competitors have experienced increases. This study represents an analytical effort to evaluate the current global ship recycling scenario, exploring its potential, challenges, and the future trajectory of both local and global ship recycling industries.

Challenges and insights: Methamphetamine analysis in post-mortem putrefied human tissues in a hot climate

BackgroundThe production and distribution of methamphetamine (meth) is often associated with illegal and clandestine laboratories, posing significant challenges for law enforcement and public health efforts. Global concern is growing over meth-related fatalities, as its high potential for abuse and detrimental impact on health make it an important issue in the realm of substance abuse and addiction. This concern has notably increased in Saudi Arabia, where the hot climate adds complexity to the analysis due to challenges posed by putrefaction. There is still an urgent need to enhance the screening capabilities of many toxicology laboratories to determine the cause of death, whether it be due to drug use or natural causes. AimThis research aimed to investigate meth concentrations in post-mortem putrefied human solid tissues in a hot climate and comparing meth metabolite concentrations in cases where signs of putrefaction were observed versus those with no signs of putrefaction. The objective is to assist criminal investigations by analyzing meth and its metabolite concentrations. MethodsThis retrospective cohort study involved postmortem samples from human subjects during autopsies conducted between 2016 and 2022. It focused on analyzing meth and its metabolite concentrations using LC-MS/MS analysis. Data on demographics, medical history, age, location, putrefaction, and other drug use were retrieved from medical records. ResultsOut of the 27 reported samples of meth and its metabolite amphetamine in both putrefied and non-putrefied biological fluids and tissues, only 8 (30%) exhibited signs of putrefaction between 2016 and 2022. Despite decomposition, detectable concentrations of meth and amphetamine were sufficient to determine the cause of death and the source of amphetamines. ConclusionThis study found no significant difference in concentrations between putrefied and non-putrefied cases, underscoring the importance of multiple sample testing during autopsy for accurate interpretation. Each case is unique and must be considered individually.

Cyberterrorism as a global threat: a review on repercussions and countermeasures.

An act of cyberterrorism involves using the internet and other forms of information and communication technology to threaten or cause bodily harm to gain political or ideological power through threat or intimidation. Data theft, data manipulation, and disruption of essential services are all forms of cyberattacks. As digital infrastructure becomes more critical and entry barriers for malicious actors decrease, cyberterrorism has become a growing concern. Detecting, responding, and preventing this crime presents unique challenges for law enforcement and governments, which require a multifaceted approach. Cyberterrorism can have devastating effects on a wide range of people and organizations. A country's reputation and stability can be damaged, financial losses can occur, and in some cases, even lives can be lost. As a result of cyberattacks, critical infrastructure, such as power grids, hospitals, and transportation systems, can also be disrupted, leading to widespread disruptions and distress. The past ten years have seen several cyber-attacks around the globe including WannaCry attack (2017), Yahoo data breaches (2013-2014), OPM data breach (2015), SolarWinds supply chain attack (2020) etc. This study covers some of the cyberterrorism events that have happened in the past ten years, their target countries, their devastating effects, their impacts on nation's economy, political instability, and measures adopted to counter them over the passage of time. Our survey-based research on cyberterrorism will complement existing literature by providing valuable empirical data, understanding of perceptions and awareness, and insights into targeted populations. It can contribute to the development of better measurement tools, strategies, and policies for countering cyberterrorism.

Exploring Forensic Challenges and Insights: Implications of Genetic Analyses on Degraded DNA Samples

Identifying missing persons from different types of body parts poses an intricate challenge for law enforcement and forensic experts. Identification through human remains is challenging when the available body parts don't contain distinctive features, commonly used for anthropological analysis. The complexities arise from the fragmentation of remains and difficulties in obtaining viable biological samples due to decomposition and expose to other factors enhancing degradation. The absence of personal information and known reference samples for familial identification further amplifies the complexities in the process. When dealing with different types of human remains and lacking additional information of those missing individuals, the analysis centered on DNA as the most dependable and potentially definitive method for identification. In such scenario, it is imperative to select ideal tissue among different tissue types for DNA extraction followed by optimized DNA extraction protocols and STR amplification kits with different markers to achieve consistent DNA profiling in identification purposes.

CFDMI-SEC: An optimal model for copy-move forgery detection of medical image using SIFT, EOM and CHM.

Image forgery is one of the issues that can create challenges for law enforcement. Digital devices can easily Copy-move images, forging medical photos. In the insurance industry, forensics, and sports, image forgery has become very common and has created problems. Copy-Move Forgery in Medical Images (CMFMI) has led to abuses in areas where access to advanced medical devices is unavailable. The proposed model (SEC) is a three-part model based on an evolutionary algorithm that can detect fake blocks well. In the first part, suspicious points are discovered with the help of the SIFT algorithm. In the second part, suspicious blocks are found using the equilibrium optimization algorithm. Finally, color histogram Matching (CHM) matches questionable points and blocks. The proposed method (SEC) was evaluated based on accuracy, recall, and F1 criteria, and 100, 97.00, and 98.47% were obtained for the fake medical images, respectively. Experimental results show robustness against different transformation and post-processing operations on medical images.

International Law Enforcement Observer XII

Aim: Issue XII of the Observer covers topics that could have a significant impact on both public safety strategy and the future development of criminal justice policy. There is no doubt that the strengthening of constitutional values and the need to make the functioning of state power more effective are new challenges for law enforcement. The following reviews report on research from abroad that can serve the development of policing, law enforcement and criminal justice.Methodology: In addition to the traditional jurisprudential methodology, the literature increasingly draws on political science disciplines with a global perspective. A good example is Tamás Suszter’s paper, which gives us a picture of how the situation of NGOs in some countries has been assessed in recent times. Róbert Berei also reports on ground-breaking research in his report on the organisational culture of the Metropolitan Police Service in London in 2023. BernadettBacsó’s analysis is not far behind, confronting the reader with the lessons of the so-called German police family model. Typical criminological reactions are highlighted by Barbara Mágó when she notes that ‘the majority of narratives on human trafficking focus on criminals exploiting vulnerable victims’.Findings: One of the findings of the study analysing the situation of NGOs is that, ‘It is important to note, however, that although the laws against NGOs do not appear to be a cause of wider human rights repression in the period under review, this does not mean that they do not have a deterrent effect on the functioning of NGOs.’ A new feature in the criminological analysis of trafficking is the analysis from the perspectives of consent, coercion and fraud, which ‘... provides a somewhat more nuanced view of the rigid legal definition, and empirical studies present a less hostile picture of trafficking. The approach of the study can thus be considered as a niche one.’ Róbert Bogotyán cites a US example from the field of penitentiary law when he states, ‘The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries saw a dramatic jump in parole revocations: both new offenses and parole violations were now sufficient to contribute to the increase in American incarceration.’Value: Despite the diversity of the reviews in the fields of constitutionalism, public security, law enforcement, criminal justice and prison culture, they are united in their defence of human values. From civilian control to the reintegration of those serving their sentences, the common theme is the effective and humane service of public order and public safety.

Human rights at sea: The limits of inter-state cooperation in addressing forced labour on fishing vessels

The sheer vastness of the world’s oceans creates a range of security and law enforcement challenges for states and the international community, including in preventing and punishing human rights abuses at sea. While human rights apply at sea the same as they do on land, this article examines the limits of national, regional and international systems of human rights governance and international law in addressing violations of human rights at sea. It asks: what are the barriers in inter-state cooperation that prevent the prosecution and prevention of human rights abuses at sea? In answering this, the paper focuses specifically on issues of human trafficking at sea and forced labour on fishing vessels by analysing two judicial processes in Southeast Asia. It argues that responding to these human rights challenges at sea requires a collective and coordinated approach that centres the rights and safety of individuals at state, regional and international levels.