Criminal Groups Research Articles

The unity and plurality of sharing

ABSTRACT Many accounts of collective intentionality target rather sophisticated types of cooperative activities, i.e., activities with complex goals that require prior planning and various coordinating and organizing roles. But although joint action is of obvious importance, an investigation of collective intentionality should not merely focus on the question of how we can share agentive intentions. We can act and do things together, but it is not obvious that the awe felt and shared by a group of Egyptologists when they gain entry to a newly discovered pharaonic tomb can or should be analyzed in the same way as, say, a heist that a group of criminals carefully plan and execute together. The aim of the article is to better understand the kind of emotional sharing that can occur between two individuals who are perceptually co-present. Does the sharing involve a kind of phenomenal fusion? Is it a matter of sharing one and the same token experience? It will be argued that both of these recent suggestions must be rejected as misleading in favor of an account that sees emotional sharing as a form of emotional integration that involves constitutively interdependent processes of empathy, second-personal address, and identification.

Criminal Governance and Social Mobilization in Brazilian Favelas

This article examines the dynamics of crime governance and social mobilization in Brazil’s impoverished communities to answer why residents of favelas mobilize against state interventions while seemingly accepting the rule of organized criminal groups (OCGs). Previous studies have primarily explored the materialistic hypothesis or the role of coercion and fear in shaping community behavior. This article employs the tools provided by the literature on contentious politics and a qualitative meta-analysis to systematically assess the varied ways in which OCGs interact with the state and favela residents, mapping the heterogeneous effects produced as a result. The findings suggest that in favelas where criminal organizations are perceived as benign, residents may rely on them to fulfill basic needs, while the state is seen as an outsider that brings disruption of routines and violence. In favelas where criminal organizations are malign, there are few incentives for change as the outcomes of challenging OCGs are uncertain.

Содействие лиц органам, осуществляющим оперативно-розыскную деятельность, как проявление социальных девиаций

Introduction. Crime, as a single personal behavioral act, and criminality, as a socio-legal phenomenon, are social deviations of individuals and groups. The state is forced to use a compulsory law enforcement apparatus to deter crime and level out its negative socio-economic consequences. In the system of the state compulsory apparatus for combating crime, the tacit assistance of persons to bodies carrying out operational investigative activities is a special, most effective and rational functional and legal instrument. Based on previous research, the author notes the unwillingness of both lawabiding citizens and representatives of the criminal environment to assist operational units. However, the determinants underlying this unwillingness are different. The author puts forward for further scientific research and discussion the hypothesis that the tacit assistance of persons to bodies carrying out operational investigative activities is the result of social deviations in the social groups under consideration. In the author’s opinion, the study of the causes and forms of these deviations from certain social norms characteristic of both (law-abiding and criminal) groups can optimize the process of involving individuals in the unofficial assistance and the fight against crime.
 Methods and methodology. The study used general scientific dialectical, comparative legal, formal logical methods and the method of content analysis. This made it possible to identify signs and forms of manifestation of deviations among persons assisting law enforcement agencies.
 Results. Based on the results of the own research and previous scientific research by other legal experts, the author comes to the conclusion that at present, the assistance of law-abiding and upstanding citizens and representatives of the criminal environment is largely determined by the deviations perceived among social groups in question. Among law-abiding citizens, deviation is expressed in a persistent unwillingness to assist law enforcement agencies in general and operational units in particular, in the presence of compassion for the direct victims of these crimes. Deviations of representatives of the criminal environment are expressed in a situational readiness to neglect corporate (subcultural) moral standards of behavior – “criminal concepts” - and provide unofficial assistance in order to achieve their own mercenary goals.

Where can offenders be found when they are not committing crimes? A cross-sectional survey of British police officers on non-crime locations

To date, the bulk of research on place and crime has concentrated on crime scene locations and home addresses of both victims and perpetrators. Beyond these locations, less is known about where offenders can be found during regular, non-criminal activity. These ‘non-crime locations’ provide information about offenders' lifestyles, their relationships with co-offenders, their preferred spots, and the places beyond the spatiotemporal boundaries of the crime where they may plan, manage, or deal with the aftermath of their behaviour. Yet there is a lack of systematic evidence, with the available research relying on local ethnographic designs, small samples or both, as access to such data was limited. This study utilises a novel approach by relying on the professional experience of intelligence police officers assigned to deal with serious and organised crime in the West Midlands County of the United Kingdom to determine the whereabouts of three types of non-crime locations: (a) hangout spots, (b) recruitment spots and (c) contraband hideout spots. Results suggest that offenders frequently visit gyms, specific restaurants, or private residences (not unlike locations where normative people hang out), and new members can be recruited anywhere. Drugs and firearms are strategically hidden near vulnerable persons. According to police officers, offenders are unconcerned by surveillance in these spots and choose venues not usually owned by criminal groups. Theoretical, methodological, and practical implications are discussed.

Current state and prospects of interaction of joint investigation teams with international police organizations

In contemporary conditions, crime acquires new characteristics, including transnational cooperation of criminal groups and adaptation to new techniques of investigating criminal offences. This specificity emphasises the necessity of finding an optimal organizational and tactical form of interaction between joint investigation teams and international police organizations. The purpose of the study is to analyse the organizational and tactical aspects of the interaction of joint investigation teams with international police organizations. The methodological toolkit includes general methods of scientific cognition, such as analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, abstraction, and scientific forecasting. The study substantiates the need for collaboration between joint investigation teams and international police organizations. It explores the tasks of international organizations in the process of investigating criminal offences. It is recommended to focus on the importance of interaction between international police organizations and joint investigation teams by developing guidelines for organising their collaboration during the investigation of criminal offences. It is argued that ensuring international cooperation in the investigation of transnational criminal offences directly depends on the activities of joint investigation teams. In turn, a special form of international cooperation in the process of investigating criminal offences involves interaction with a wide range of participants in the criminal justice system. International organizations, as external factors capable of influencing the fulfilment of joint tasks by law enforcement and other authorities at the national and international levels, hold a prominent place in this partnership. The application of innovative tactical techniques and their complexes by joint investigation teams during procedural actions is associated with the algorithm of using shared methodologies that impact the effectiveness of investigating criminal offences at all levels of interaction. The results of the study will serve as a guide for the law enforcement system in implementing international cooperation

Violência e criminalidade: duas modalidades encontradas no contexto do conflito armado colombiano

Abstract: Colombia is among the countries with the highest levels of violence and crime in the world, despite the peace agreements between the State and different armed groups, including the FARC. This is partly due to the fact that the Colombian case is complex and multifaceted because of the variety of participants in the armed conflict context and due to the mutation of new actors, under the modality of organized crime. Based on the above, the objective is to study the Colombian reality, contextually and diachronically, from theoretical and epistemological elements to demonstrate how violence and criminality factors intersect in the context of the armed conflict. The study concludes, among other findings, that in Colombia the ambiguity and the multiplicity of terms used to name the emerging criminal groups presents a legal problem because of their hybrid composition and regarding their treatment within or outside of the armed conflict.

Firmant and the problem of identifying a taxpayer in an organized criminal group

This article concerns fiscal penal liability against the background of the misdemeanor of firmanism. The authors argue that the so-called pillars in fraudulent tax schemes are primarily people cooperating in the tax fraud of others. They act as helpers. On the other hand, the mere fact that this type of activity materialises only the elements of Article 55 of the k.k.s., although formally correct, is incomplete. The essence of the conduct of the entire criminal group, including the so-called pillars, is to commit tax fraud in the form of acts penalised in Article 54 of the k.k.s. or in Article 56 of the k.k.s.

Organized forms of crime in the companion animals market – criminological study

The subject of the study is the illegal market for companion animals in Poland. This issue falls within the scope of a paradigm in criminology referred to as “green criminology”. The subject undertaken in the study is part of the social discourse on the legal protection of pet animals. The work is of innovative nature, as the phenomenon of the illegal companion animal market has not been the subject of criminological research in the Polish literature. The research might have an implication dimension and can contribute to setting the direction of criminal policy in the area of green crime. The aim of the study is to depict the phenomenon of the illegal companion animal market in Poland, to determine whether organized criminal groups are involved in illegal practices, to determine the structure of crime, and to analyze the legal regulations in terms of their effectiveness. The results of the research might be helpful in identifying areas of importance for countering pathologies in the animal market.

Youth and Violence in Brazil and Latin America: Theoretical and Empirical Approaches

Abstract Studies in Brazil and other Latin American countries have demonstrated how the expansion of illegal drug markets and firearms trafficking over borders has increased the risks for young people, especially those who live in socially vulnerable neighborhoods, of becoming victims of lethal violence. In addressing this scenario, we review some of the most relevant research approaches that seek to understand the involvement of young men in organized crime, the rise of criminal factions or groups and their internationalization process, and the social and institutional mechanisms that contribute to the production and reproduction of lethal violence. Delving both into sociological and anthropological studies in Brazil, as well as other Latin American contributions, we elaborate on the most promising contributions that combine an intersectional approach to the sociological and criminological theories most often employed to understand the involvement of youth with lethal violence in Brazil and the Latin American context.

SMUGGLING CIGARETTES TROUGH THE BORDER SECTION PROTECTED BY NADBUZANSKI BORDER GUARD REGIONAL UNIT AS A THREAT AND BORDER SECURITY PROTECTION CHALLENGE

The aim of this article is to present one of the vital problems the Border Guard fights against – smuggling cigarettes through the borders, which has a worldwide range, but this article is focused on cigarette smuggling routes from Eastern Europe through (and to) Poland, taking into consideration Polish border section protected by Nadbuzanski Border Guard Regional Unit (NBGRU). The article also presents the peculiarities occurring in smuggling goods tendencies used by criminals and presents the methods of fighting against this problem, as efficient protection of EU external borders is an important part of the European border protection system. The tendencies indicated in this article, engage mostly organized criminal groups in smuggling excise goods, and their determination and brutality, clearly show that decisive steps are needed to fight against smugglers. In the future, we should expect that Poland will be not only the transit territory for smuggling cigarettes but also the recipient as OLAF experts claim. The article is an attempt to indicate the problem of smuggling cigarettes through the borders which has a worldwide range, on the example of one section of the Polish border protected by NBGRU, which of course, does not present all sides of the problem. It is obvious to everyone that stopping this business is impossible, but what is real and all countries trying to tackle this problem should consider, is controlling this activity and limiting the scale of smuggling cigarettes by effective cooperation of all law enforcement institutions on both – national and international levels.

Traces of (dis)organised crime in sports gambling: a case study of the 2011 K-League match-fixing scandal

AbstractGambling-related match-fixing is a form of corruption that has become a global issue particularly since the start of the new millennium. Research on match-fixing has often emphasised the involvement of mafia-like criminal groups in match-fixing arrangements. By incorporating an activity-centred view of organised crime, this paper examines how, and to what extent, organised crime is involved in betting-related match-fixing with particular focus on the 2011 Korean football scandal. Analysing data from 11 in-depth interviews with government, football and gambling officials and two convicted footballers, this paper traces the relative contributions of external criminal influences and internal vulnerabilities of the football league towards the occurrence of the K-League’s match-fixing cases. The results suggest that illegal betting operators’ exploitation of match-fixing to hedge risks demonstrates the influence of external criminal groups. However, risks were also observed within the football sector (e.g., financial and performance imbalances in the league, normalised betting and inside-trading amongst footballers, close social links with organised mobs, etc.) revealing that, at that time, K-football was not only susceptible to external criminal influences but facilitated the opportunistic structure for match-fixing. Overall, this study highlights that match-fixing is not solely instigated by organised crime groups, but can also be incubated within a sport whose culture, management and ethics are not ready to co-exist with gambling.

Organised Crime and the ecosystems of sexual exploitation in the United Kingdom: How supply and demand generate sexual exploitation and protection from prosecution

Thinking about organised crime as an ecosystem is not only novel but also offers much potential to add to the theoretical and policy-based literature in this area. While organised crime is often analysed as relationships between criminal groups and consumers of illicit goods/services, little work has analysed specific forms of organised crime activities as ecosystems where different constituent parts are dependent upon each other for the crime activity to occur. This paper analyses the organisation of sexual exploitation by entrepreneurial organised crime groups selling sex in the United Kingdom. Based upon 30 interviews with 23 law enforcement forces in England and Wales and five interviews with Adult Service Website Operators; it identifies how an ecosystem is built that ensures (a) profit generation and (b) avoidance of legal prosecution. Our analysis not only illustrates how a market ‘supply’ and ‘demand’ ecosystem is generated through mutually convenient ‘organiser’, ‘marketer’ and ‘buyer’ relationships, but also how the roles of these actors ensure sexual exploitation continues.

Population health as a component of public security: the experience of the European Union and Ukraine

The scientific article, taking into account the original concept of public safety, examines the European experience and domestic approaches to public health protection in a comprehensive, risk-oriented and preventive mode. The urgency of the investigated issues is shown not only in national, but also in international dimensions. The EU initiative on health security (2020-2025), which aims to create a regional workforce responsible for the prevention and control of infectious disease challenges and strengthen regional cooperation to overcome cross-border health security threats, has been positively evaluated. It is established that the outbreak of COVID-19 in the world has created new "opportunities" for organized criminal groups, given that law enforcement agencies are actively involved in resolving crisis situations in order to reduce the further spread of viral infection.
 From the standpoint of legal comparative analyses, the Ukrainian approach to public health protection within the national public safety program is highlighted. In particular, in Ukraine, the sphere of public security includes relations related to compliance with quarantine rules and the fight against particularly dangerous infectious diseases and epidemics. It was noted that the task of the Ukrainian authorities in the context of countering the spread and consequences of the corona crisis was not only the introduction of administrative and strengthening of criminal liability, but also the introduction at the local level of clear and specific rules of conduct during quarantine and timely and full communication of their content to the population.
 It is emphasized that the duty of citizens during large-scale threats to health is to strictly comply with regulations and requirements of competent authorities. It was determined that this directly depends, first of all, on the clear interaction of such state institutions as the bodies of the National Police, the State Emergency Service, the National Guard, local self-government bodies, communal enterprises, health care institutions, transport, human rights organizations, public associations for the protection of law and order among themselves and with the public.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL SUPPORT OF POLICE MANAGEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

The subject matter of the study is the conceptual, theoretical, empirical and methodological foundations of legal and economic aspects of administrative and legal support for the management of police activities in the context of economic integration. Methodology. The study uses general scientific and special methods of cognition. The dialectical method was used to analyse the essence of police management in the context of economic integration in both the legal and economic dimensions in a wide range of parameters. The analysis provided the basis for a multidimensional study of all the characteristic features of police management in the context of economic integration in economic and legal etymology. The synthesis created the basis for generalising the characteristic features of this police activity as a law enforcement agency. The formal legal method allowed for an accurate interpretation of the legal provisions defining the general and special legal framework for administrative and legal support of police management in the context of economic integration. The article aims at defining the essence of administrative and legal support for management of police activities in the context of economic integration and developing proposals for its improvement. The results of the publication show that the administrative and legal support of police management in the context of economic integration covers a number of comprehensive measures in various areas of activity of the relevant police unit, primarily aimed at ensuring economic security. The paper identifies areas for improving the administrative and legal support of police management in the context of economic integration, with a significant emphasis on lawmaking. Conclusion. In the context of economic globalisation, so-called transnational crimes play a significant role, including the creation of and participation in organised criminal groups, corruption offences, obstruction of justice, and money (income) laundering. The National Police of Ukraine is taking a number of measures to counteract unlawful manifestations in the economic sphere, which are largely components of transnational crime, by implementing appropriate management measures. In the context of administrative and legal support of the National Police, the article examines the structural elements of transnational crime and the powers of the police in this area. Some aspects related to combating crimes committed by organised groups and criminal organisations, corruption offences, economic crimes and the prevention of economic crime were highlighted. In order to overcome the negative manifestations of economic crime in the conditions of economic integration, relevant measures have been proposed, including: participation in legislative work, which should primarily incorporate the best practices of the international community in this area; development of the concept of service activities, which mediate the form and content of law enforcement activities in the economic sphere; improvement of management activities in combating manifestations of corruption in the economic sphere; creation of a qualified personnel potential in the relevant units of the National Police, whose activities are aimed at ensuring economic security in accordance with the above directions, etc. The paper provides proposals for improving the legislative definition of the concept of economic security and delineating the competence of national security entities in this area, including police units.

COUNTERACTION TO CRIMES COMMITTED WITH THE PURPOSE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CRIMINAL EXPLOITATION OF HUMANS

The necessity of the problem studied by the author is largely due to the fact that in the conditions of the new millennium, most world powers have to deal with active influence in their countries with well-organized transnational criminal groups involved in the export of potential victims abroad for the purpose of their sale or criminal exploitation. Today, this problem is not only extremely relevant, but also essentially global in nature. At present, it is difficult to find a state in the world that would not be affected by the above problems, and our state is no exception. Development in the early 2020s organized crime all over the world contributed to the fact that the considered criminal attacks, being a transnational phenomenon in terms of their profitability, began to occupy one of the leading positions in the underworld, representing a most dangerous challenge to the entire world community. The main factors that contribute to the growth of illegal encroachments in the sphere of exporting potential victims abroad for the purpose of their sale or criminal exploitation is that these criminal manifestations are becoming more organized and latent. In this regard, it is necessary to start improving preventive measures, which will make it possible to provide additional mechanisms for preventing the pre-ancient activity under consideration. The current state of affairs in the field of combating illegal encroachments in the field of human trafficking, first of all, requires the improvement of measures, legal regulation to counteract criminal groups involved in the export of potential victims abroad for the purpose of their sale or criminal exploitation.

‘Hacking the hackers’: reflections on state-implemented disruption as a ‘new model’ for cyber policing

ABSTRACT Following the most significant data breaches in Australia’s history, targeting Optus and Medibank, in November 2022 Australia’s Minster for Home Affairs and Cybersecurity Clare O’Neil announced ‘a new model of policing’ involving a collaboration between the Australian Federal Police and Australian Signals Directorate. This collaboration would result in a new taskforce focused on ‘hacking the hackers’ or disrupting criminal groups responsible for high-profile cyber-attacks against Australian entities. Since this announcement, significant discussion has ensued regarding the meaning of state-implemented ‘disruption’ and questions have been raised about the potential mandate and operations of the newly announced taskforce. This paper explores the concept of disruption as it applies to cyber-criminal groups. It then turns to considerations for policy and practice regarding the pursuit of disruption. The paper aims to advance existing understanding of disruption and encourage further research and policy debate into the policing of cybercrime as the Australian government commences work on the 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy.

Counterfeiting of banknotes in Poland

The article presents in a broad perspective the phnomenon of the banknote counterfeiting in Poland. It was was investigated using an analytical approach based on various factors characterizing the discussed practice. The denominations most exposed to counterfeiting (PLN 100 and PLN 200) were identified, the number of criminal proceedings conducted in cases of money counterfeiting was examined, and the structure of banknotes seized as doubtful was analysed. In addition, an analysis of the PPM indicator showing the number of counterfeits per 1 million banknotes in circulation was carried out, comparing Poland's data with data from other countries. The article also presents the basic classification of banknote counterfeits. The conducted research leads to the conclusion that Polish banknotes are characterized by high resistance to counterfeiting, resulting from the recent modernization of the banknotes and their well-chosen security features. At the same time, the Polish currency - due to its local nature and relative weakness against the EUR and USD - is not attractive to international criminal groups specializing in counterfeiting

Vai trò của ngành Ngân hàng trong hoạt động phòng, chống rửa tiền tại Việt Nam

In recent years, money laundering has become a serious problem in many countries and has always received the attention of international organizations and policymakers. As professional financial institutions, banks are not only a place to conduct financial transactions but also undertake their social responsibilities in protecting the national financial system from illegal and criminal activities. One of the most important tasks of the banking industry is anti-money laundering (AML). Using methods of synthesizing and analyzing documents, this article conducts an overview of AML in Vietnam; highlight the role of the banking industry in AML. Research results show that the current situation of money laundering risks in Vietnam is very complex, spanning many groups of source criminals as well as different sectors of the economy. and the role of the banking industry in AML is very important. From there, the article proposes a number of solutions to increase the effectiveness of detecting and preventing money laundering crimes in the banking industry.

Human Organs Trafficking: Perspective from Criminal Matters, Business and Human Rights

Background: The trafficking of human organs has evolved over the years. At first it appeared across isolated cases, but over time it has increased the curiosity of organised crime due to the high benefits and the small possibility of the perpetrators being pursued with an international character. The perpetrators of this criminal act start this criminal activity with the trafficking of sperm, but they can also continue with the tissues and organs from corpses. Also, human rights have evolved in recent decades. Today, human rights are at the epicentre of global poli- tics. In addition, security issues, poverty, social inequality, non-respect of human rights, lack of adequate laws, and lack of law enforcement are prerequisites for a particular impact on the trafficking of human organs. Methods: This paper provides a comparative look at the topic with a special emphasis on hu- man organ trafficking by analysing in different and interrelated perspectives, including the social aspect, criminal aspect, the benefits of criminal groups, and the violation of basic human rights. Results and Conclusions: As part of the concluding remarks, suggestions for future actions by law enforcement institutions in terms of anti-trafficking policies and practices.

Procedural protection of persons who collaborate with the law enforcement agency in uncovering the criminal network

Ensuring the evidential basis is a permanent challenge for the law enforcement agency in criminal proceedings. This challenge is materialized by the desire of the perpetrator/criminal to destroy the evidence that proves their guilt. In investigating crime offenses, this danger is more imminent due to the operating methods of criminal groups and organizations, namely violence, cruelty and terror. For centuries, the statements of persons targeted by criminal actions or those who witnessed these actions have been considered the most viable evidence in a criminal trial. Given the importance and weight of the given evidence, the actions of criminal organizations have constantly been aimed at influencing and destroying it. It is precisely this fact that has led the legislator to take a firm position in this regard to ensure the state protection of persons who collaborate with the law enforcement agency in holding the guilty parties accountable.