Law Enforcement Authorities Research Articles

Impact of Pattern-or-Practice Investigations on Crime Rates in Large Cities

In recent decades, the conduct of city police departments has come under increased scrutiny. In response to high profile police actions, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initiated investigations into the “pattern or practice” of state, local and other law enforcement authorities. In theory, federal oversight can lead to less police abuse, enhanced citizen satisfaction with police, and less crime. Alternatively, federal intervention can correspond to “de-policing” and higher levels of crime. This study explores why some cites are more likely to become a focus of federal investigations and the apparent impact of those investigations on crime. The data suggests that federal investigations are more likely to be launched in higher crime jurisdictions and that investigations do not lead to reduction in the rate of violent or property crime. Statistically significant increases in property crimes after a pattern-or-practice investigation were found compared to similar sized cities.

Examining the Contours and Challenges of National Cybercrime Reporting Portal in Countering Digital Financial Frauds

Digitalization and ease of financial transactions have spurted a ubiquitous rise in cybercrimes. In 2021, 60.8 per cent of reported cybercrime cases registered were for the motive of fraud. To tackle mounting digital financial fraud complaints, the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal was created by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The portal is an integrated platform where stakeholders, such as law enforcement agencies, banks, financial intermediaries and others, are connected to prevent the outflow of money from the system, as money once out of the system becomes untraceable and non-retrievable. The portal enables requests to be sent to identified stakeholders by law enforcement authorities to block financial transactions or create a lien on the disputed money while the money is with them. The article has been written against the backdrop of Herbert Packer’s two models of the criminal process, describing two competing goals that underlie criminal legal regimes: the crime-control model and the due process model. As crime is committed in cyberspace and technology is developed to counter it, often the urgency of resolving the crime and the opacity surrounding the technology, blur the lines of permissible and impermissible actions. The article argues that this technical solution created for tackling digital financial frauds is far from perfect, and, at best, a quick fix while larger, looming questions remain unanswered. Through a series of high court cases, the article brings forth how due process requirements are often sidelined in favour of the more immediate goal of crime control in the guise of this PoliceTech, even as questions of the efficiency of the tech remain unaddressed. Nonetheless, the article recommends reforms to ensure the safe deployment of PoliceTech in India, minimize public harm and create accountability for misuse of harms arising from technology.

PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANIES AND SECURITY PROVISIONING IN NIGERIA: LESSONS FROM OTHER CLIMES

Insecurity in the form of terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, armed banditry, cattle rustling, armed robbery, murder, rape and other violent crimes are on the increase in Nigeria in spite of government efforts to contain them. There is no gainsaying that government forces are seemingly incapacitated to tackle the upsurge of insecurity across the country as terrorists, kidnappers and armed bandits specifically operate with impunity openly as if government security forces are non-existent. Although, insecurity is a global social problem, Nigerian situation is becoming overwhelming, thereby necessitating the proliferation of private security companies into the security arena to lend support to government security force efforts. Since their emergence into the security architecture, private security companies (PSCs) are creating great impact in security provisioning across the globe thereby complementing the efforts of government law enforcement agencies. In Nigeria, they have made great inroads in security provision such that their presence is felt in all nooks and crannies of the country. This paper examined PSCs and security provisioning in Nigeria with reference to lessons from other climes. The paper utilized exploratory analysis relying largely on qualitative content analysis from secondary sources of data collection through journal articles, books, periodicals, news prints and internet materials. The situational crime prevention and problem-oriented policing theories were used as theoretical framework. The paper showed that private security companies in Nigeria have contributed immensely to checkmating crimes in their areas of operations but lack global relevance as their activities are limited to Nigeria since they are not allowed to bear firearms. PSCs in Nigeria are overburdened with regulations that dwarf their operations cum lacking legislative recognition as components of the national security architecture. The paper underscored the global relevance of private security companies and their emergence and proliferation in Nigeria and concludes that PSCs in Nigeria, though very crucial in security provisioning need to be properly positioned for relevance in the global security market. The paper recommends among others, that relevant legislations should be enacted to allow PSCs in Nigeria bear firearms to enable them participate fully in security provisioning while intra-inter agency collaboration and networking is necessary to strengthen the private security sub sector. This is in addition to allowing PSCs to participate in private detection and prosecution in Nigeria.

Preserving Secrecy in the Frame of Labour Relationships: Methods of Secrets Protection, Analysis of the Problems and Proposals to Improve the Legislation

Introduction. The large-scale transformations in the state power and governance authorities of the Russian Federation have led to the significant change of the role assigned to the legal and state institutions. The reforms have also affected the matters related to the protection of various types of secrets in the frame of labour relationships, organisation of the work of the human resources departments and their interaction with the law enforcement and regulatory authorities. The authors as well as other scientists study the various viewpoints on this issue, however, neither in the scientific nor in the law enforcement circles there exists a uniform opinion on the methodology of protecting the secrets. The aim of this study is to investigate the existing methods of protecting the secrets, to identify the problematic aspects in the system of interaction between the state, law enforcement and judicial bodies of the Russian Federation and to propose possible solutions for improving the methods of preserving secrecy at the current stage of development of the country.Materials and Methods. The general scientific and specific scientific methods were used in the frame of the study, such as, the dialectical method of cognition, the cognitive analysis method, the sociological method and others.Results. When carrying out the certain actions under the employment contract, an employer and an employee are guided by the special rules, which correspond to a specific secrecy preserving behaviour, but which, in the author’s opinion, are not enough accurate and worked out in the acting legislation of the Russian Federation. The main problems referring to this subject are: the insufficiently developed theoretical apparatus; a narrow range of powers in the frame of the state supervision; low level of administrative liability of the subjects. To solve these problems, a number of measures are proposed to optimize the legal support of the parties of the employment contract in the frame of protecting their rights and freedoms and providing them with the guarantees necessary to ensure the regime of preserving secrecy.Discussion and Conclusion. To ensure the efficient legal policy of the state, the constant improvement of the legal framework is required. The present article investigates in detail the problems of organising the interaction of both the state and private employers with the law enforcement and judicial authorities of the Russian Federation in the frame of implementing the methods of secrecy preservation, and the ways of solving these problems are proposed. The main conclusions made by the author have theoretical and practical significance for further research in this field.

Forest and Land Fire Management in Indonesia: Unveiling the Implementation Gaps of Law No. 32 of 2009 in Palembang

Forest and land fires (Karhutla) pose a significant environmental threat in Indonesia, particularly in Palembang. Law No. 32 of 2009 on Environmental Protection and Management provides a framework for fire prevention and mitigation. This study evaluated the law's implementation effectiveness in addressing Karhutla in Palembang. A socio-legal approach was employed, utilizing primary data from interviews with key informants (government officials, law enforcement, community leaders, and residents affected by fires) and secondary data from legal documents, reports, and academic literature. Qualitative data analysis techniques were used to identify themes and patterns. The study revealed that Law No. 32 of 2009 has not been effectively implemented in Palembang. Weaknesses were identified in law enforcement, inter-agency coordination, resource allocation, and community engagement. While a clear legal framework and stakeholder support exist, implementation is hindered by limited resources, inadequate sanctions, and low public awareness. In conclusion, to improve Karhutla management, strengthening law enforcement, enhancing inter-agency coordination, increasing public legal awareness, and ensuring adequate resource allocation are crucial.

Analysis of Gender Inequalities in Migrants to Squatter Settlements in Mwanza City, Tanzania

This paper provides results from an analysis of gender inequalities in migrants to squatter settlements in Mwanza City, Tanzania. In its pursuit to glean out gender inequality aspects, Anomie Theory was employed. A mixed research approach and a case study strategy were used. Respondents encompassed local government leaders and residents in squatter settlements. Interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussions yielded primary data, whereas documentary reviews furnished secondary data. Content analysis was used for qualitative data and simple statistics were employed for quantitative data. Results from this study revealed that there were more women than men who migrated to squatter settlements and more women than men owned houses. Gender-based violence that included wife battering, accusations of sorcery and genital mutilation led women and girls, respectively, to escape rural areas to Mwanza City for safety. Individuals with deviant behaviours included thugs, robbers, drug addicts, alcoholics and prostitutes. Government law enforcement agents deal with deviant behaviours in the city including squatter areas. In its pursuit through employed Anomie Theory as a conjectural lens, results from the study led the researcher to discern the implications of the research. Thus, it is recommended that there is a need for all persons as individuals, civil society organizations and the government to vehemently deal with Gender-Based Violence both in rural and urban areas. Through concerted efforts by identified players together with the government, it will be possible to increase the fight against deviant behaviours in Mwanza city areas

AVChain: Trusted Sharing of Autonomous Vehicle Crash Incident Data using Interoperating HyperLedger Fabric Networks and IPFS

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are gaining in popularity over the years as a viable cab service apps as well as for personal use. However, incidents of crashes involving AVs continue to occur, adversely affecting their prospects for widespread acceptance by both end users and regulatory authorities. While such cases are routinely investigated, in the absence of a human to testify on what caused the crash, one has to rely solely on available data. It is therefore imperative that the data logged by AVs is accessible to the concerned parties in a trustworthy manner. In this paper, we present AVChain - a novel framework for using a permissioned blockchain like HyperLedger Fabric (HLF) to record and share AV data comprised of sensors, actuators, maps, planning algorithms and machine learning models so that the data stays immutable even in the face of cross blaming among involved parties. Since the data volume is extremely large, we appropriately compress and down sample the same before storing in a distributed file system, namely, IPFS (Inter-Planetary File System). The hashes of such IPFS data called Content Ids (CIDs) are committed to the HLF network for making them tamper proof. The HLF ledger can later be queried to obtain the CIDs, which are then further used to retrieve and un-compress the original data from IPFS. Effectiveness and usability of AVChain is demonstrated by generating autonomous vehicle data from CARLA, which is a widely used open source AV simulator. For sharing AV data across organizations like sensor and actuator suppliers, map service providers, machine learning model developers and law enforcement authorities, the Weaver tool has been used to make multiple HLF networks interoperate. We have also developed a web application to demonstrate the working of AVChain. Results of an extensive set of experiments establish the efficacy of our approach.

Terrorist Financing: Traditional vs. Emerging Financial Technologies

ABSTRACT This study examines the use of traditional systems and emerging financial technologies for terrorist financing based on a dataset comprising 121 cases around the world. While there are speculations that terrorists are largely adopting emerging FinTechs like cryptocurrencies, our exploratory findings indicate that only 7 percent of cases involve such technologies. Traditional payment systems are still dominant, accounting for 93 percent of cases. Terrorist financiers primarily rely on the banking system and employ methods such as foreign shell companies, money transfers, Hawala systems, and high-value commodities. Research and policy implications for law enforcement and public authorities are discussed.

Innovative and disruptive policing: considering intelligence-driven community policing as a remodeled strategy for addressing crime in contemporary society

This article examines the necessity for implementing a more intelligent, inventive, and disruptive policing paradigm, such as intelligence-driven community policing, to address both traditional and technology-facilitated crimes. Intelligence-driven community policing is a comprehensive policing paradigm that emphasises the identification and prevention of habitual criminals, concentrating on groups that present a threat and risk to the community. It employs community intelligence alongside other intelligence-driven policing strategies and methodologies to address crime and criminal activity. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. The data for this research was gathered in three countries: Denmark, the two South African metropolitan provinces of Gauteng and Western Cape, and three Nigerian cities: Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. The findings demonstrate that community policing has been embraced and executed in the majority of jurisdictions; yet, numerous issues hinder its efficient implementation. This encompasses a deficiency in comprehending the model's conceptual framework, misinterpretations and misconceptions by those responsible for its implementation, and an incapacity among the police, stakeholders, and the general public to distinguish community policing from state and regional policing. Innovative policing has significant consequences for international law enforcement in an increasingly digitised and complicated environment. Technological advancements have obscured the distinctions between the physical and digital domains, rendering the criminal scene increasingly global and complex. National and international law enforcement authorities must use innovative approaches and remain abreast of swift digitalisation and technical progress. This study recommends shifting to intelligence-driven community policing by integrating intelligence-led police strategies, techniques, and approaches into the community policing implementation framework. Understanding the conceptual framework of community policing and contemporary implementation methods tailored to the specific demands of each jurisdiction, police agency, culture, and circumstances is essential. A comprehensive recommendation is proposed to enhance the capacity and capability development of criminal justice, law enforcement, and intelligence personnel regarding the execution of intelligence-driven community policing.

Balancing privacy and public health: The impact of South Africa's cannabis legalization

The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act, enacted in South Africa in 2024, marks a significant shift in national drug policy by legalizing private cannabis use while aiming to balance individual privacy rights with public health and safety. This paper examines the Act’s impacts on socioeconomic dynamics, public health, and crime within South Africa, a context shaped by poverty, inequality, and strained healthcare resources. The study highlights potential economic benefits, such as job creation and formal market opportunities, alongside risks, including increased pressure on mental health services and complex implications for crime and gender-based violence. Drawing from government reports, recent studies, and international case comparisons, the analysis reveals how legalization might reduce the burden on the criminal justice system while also introducing challenges in public safety and healthcare capacity. The findings emphasize the need for robust governance frameworks that prioritize health system preparedness, social protections, and crime prevention. The discussion provides targeted policy recommendations for government agencies, healthcare providers, and law enforcement, addressing the importance of public education, regulatory oversight, and mental health support. This study offers valuable insights into the nuanced consequences of cannabis legalization in an emerging economy, contributing to global discussions on drug policy. By aligning policy with the realities of public health and safety, South Africa can leverage the potential benefits of legalization while mitigating its social costs.

Metode penelitian

The Indonesian nation since the 1945 Constitution was established as the Constitution of the Indonesian state. In its development, this agreement has transformed into a common ideal which is also usually called state philosophy or staatsidee (state ideals). In the concept of democracy, it contains the principles of popular sovereignty (democratie) while in the concept of the rule of law, it contains the principles of the rule of law (nomocratie). Law enforcement mechanisms must also be able to protect the rights of citizens from injustice with the principles of humanity and mutual respect for the continuity of existing laws. This becomes an integral part of the legal system with law enforcement authorities. Indonesia as a democratic rule of law country, adheres to the sovereignty of the people as well as the rule of law.search for research titles and abstracts is made easier by those key words.

Analisis Hak Serta Rehabilitasi Nama Baik Korban Tindak Pidana Pencemaran Nama Baik Melalui Media Sosial

The rapid development of globalization today facilitates access to information circulating on social media, both positive and negative. This study examines the increasing cases of defamation in the digital age, focusing on legal protection aspects and rehabilitation efforts for victims. The purpose of this writing is to understand the role of the government and law enforcement authorities in addressing defamation offenses. Using a normative legal research method, it is concluded that: 1. To understand the forms of defamation offenses, 2. To determine the rights of victims of defamation. Protection and rehabilitation efforts for one's reputation are crucial in this era, considering the advancements in technology and the widespread occurrence of defamation.

Nemzetközi Rendészeti Figyelő XV.

Aim: The international law enforcement literature focuses on the study of unlawful human behaviour that violates public order and threatens public security. Research focusing on the internal workings of law enforcement authorities and prosecution services is relatively rare. There are also few examples of academic work on crimes committed by law enforcement officials. The Observer now reports on such articles. Methodology: Attila Sümegh’s review gives an overview of the methods used by the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation in the fight against corruption. In addition to the traditional methods of detecting official and economic bribery, the Prosecutor’s Office also performs tasks that reveal the shortcomings of inadequate legislation that can significantly increase the risk of corruption. Ronett Radvánszki’s summary outlines a methodology for investigating so-called ‘police crime’ in the United States. She points out that police officers who cross the line of legality in the possession of a monopoly on legitimate violence may think that their status makes them less accountable. Findings: Gábor Bélai’s work is exceptionally wide-ranging and professional in its approach, and provides us with an insight into the criminalistic practices of the former GDR (German Democratic Republic) and the former FRG (Federal Republic of Germany) and the differences in the procedural order of law enforcement. While we can be convinced that the former GDR’s training in criminology was of a high professional standard, we must also understand that prosecutorial control of law enforcement in the former GDR still offers considerably more guarantees than in a conception that did not follow the criteria of the rule of law. Value: From a publication dedicated to the study of domestic violence, Bíborka Horváth highlights that ‘current legislation focuses primarily on violence in individual, public places and does not pay enough attention to those who are victims of multifaceted abuse by intimate partners or family members.’ This research also goes far beyond the criminal justice dimensions of domestic violence to report on the moral values that can be the source of the outcomes of individual and social inclusion. Aura Vörös provides information on a study of the legitimacy of the state’s monopoly on violence, with a special focus on the interpretation of the police monopoly on violence, an inescapable task for any democratically functioning constitutional power.

Infiltrating virtual worlds. The regulation of undercover agents through fundamental rights

As virtual worlds become increasingly integrated into daily life, law enforcement authorities face new challenges in adapting criminal procedure to these immersive digital environments. This paper explores how undercover operations might be conducted in virtual worlds, focusing on the legal frameworks governing traditional and cyber infiltration in France and Spain, in parallel with selected European Court of Human Rights’ case law. Which opportunities these legal frameworks offer for investigations in virtual worlds, and how should they be balanced with the right to privacy and the right to a fair trial? In Spain, cyber infiltration is part of a unified framework, whereas France treats traditional and cyber infiltration as distinct. Both countries offer broader opportunities for virtual world investigations through cyber infiltration’s flexible scope and authorization However, traditional infiltration grants undercover agents wider powers that may better align with the unique dynamics of virtual worlds. Therefore, a mixed regime may be needed for effective investigations in these environments. The case law of the European Court of Human Rights underscores the importance of evaluating the proportionality of these measures, particularly with the right to privacy, regarding their regulation, and the right to a fair trial, regarding the risk of entrapment.

The relationships between law enforcement authorities and underground raves: a case study of OTUM rave festival in the Maldives

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the relationship between underground raves and law enforcement authorities. It is centred on the police raid of the OTUM rave festival held on the uninhabited island of Anbaraa in the Maldives, specifically focusing on the perceptions of ravers present during the raid of the OTUM rave festival. The data on which this paper is based stems from open-ended interviews with ravers who were present during the raid. Ravers felt that police used excessive force at the rave festival. They arrested 79 ravers for possessing recreational substances, including LSD, cannabis, and ecstasy. The police raided the rave festival due to pressure from religious clerics and to appease the more conservative members of the mainstream society. The results from this study suggest that treating ravers as criminals and threatening them with imprisonment creates a disconnection between the underground rave community and the mainstream society, widening rather than healing divides and reinforcing ideas of deviance and resistance.

РОЛЬ МИТНИХ ОРГАНІВ І ПРОЦЕДУР МИТНОГО ОФОРМЛЕННЯ У ФОРМУВАННІ БЕЗПЕКИ НА РИНКУ ПАРФУМЕРНО-КОСМЕТИЧНОЇ ПРОДУКЦІЇ

One of the main tasks facing the customs authorities in ensuring the economic security of the State is: replenishment of the State budget revenues in full in accordance with the State Customs Service's planned task, which is the fiscal function of the customs authorities; protection of the national producer and the domestic market from unfair foreign competition; customs control, especially in terms of movement of goods, with a view to detecting the facts of illegal import/export and smuggling. The article presents the results of the study of the role of customs authorities and the customs clearance procedures carried out by them in the course of their professional activities in the formation of security in the market of perfumery and cosmetic products. It is shown that despite the changing geopolitical, economic and trade situation on the world stage, customs and law enforcement authorities should constantly carry out effective work to detect and suppress crimes that may harm the economic security of Ukraine. The issue of safety of perfume and cosmetic products is also relevant in terms of harm to consumer health, as the safety of these products depends on the composition, quality of the initial components, technological process of production, storage and sale conditions, and consumption conditions. At each stage of the life cycle, physical and chemical processes may occur in the FCP that cause changes that are hazardous to human health. Therefore, to verify the safety of products (in particular, cosmetics), a set of various tests is carried out. Accordingly, the issue of the role and functions of customs authorities in ensuring the safety of perfumes and cosmetics is becoming more relevant in order to increase the efficiency of control over the customs value of certain goods imported into the customs territory of Ukraine and to ensure a uniform approach when deciding on their customs value. It is concluded that customs authorities are state institutions with a high potential for developing equipment in ensuring the economic security of the country, striving for constant mutual exchange of experience and for improving professional qualifications

Leveraging openCV and image processing for crime identification through facial recognition

To maintain the safety and security of communities, law enforcement agencies provide vital functions such as crime prevention and identification. Identifying people with a criminal record efficiently and accurately is one of the biggest hurdles in this field. This study delves into a fresh strategy for taking on this problem by making use of state-of-the-art image processing methods and machine learning algorithms. The project's main goal is to identify convicted felons by utilizing OpenCV, a robust open-source computer vision toolkit, and different facial recognition algorithms. By giving them a tool that guarantees a faster reaction rate and improved accuracy in suspect identification, the system is aimed to boost the capacities of law enforcement organizations. This project is based on the tenet of criminal psychology, which states that criminals are prone to committing new crimes. The system's goal is to detect and track repeat criminals both before and after they commit crimes by making use of this information. The method works by taking pictures of people who are known to be criminals and putting them in a database. From there, they can be compared to either live video streams or static photographs taken by surveillance cameras. In order to analyze and identify facial characteristics effectively, algorithms like LBPH and the Haar cascade classifier are also used. The system's robustness and efficiency are guaranteed by integrating these approaches into the OpenCV framework. This research makes a valuable contribution to the field of crime prevention by offering law enforcement authorities a dependable and scalable alternative. This system provides a streamlined interface for storing, retrieving, and matching facial photos. It was built using Python 3.5 and uses SQLite to manage the database of offenders' details. Proactively monitoring persons with a criminal record is made easier and faster with the suggested method. Suspect identification is also made easier. This research showcases the possibility of integrating machine learning and image processing to enhance public safety and crime prevention initiatives. It is an early step towards more complete video surveillance systems.

Promising Directions for Modernizing Legal Regulations on Non-Custodial Sentences and Criminal Measures

The reduction of criminal repression has gained recognition in modern criminal law, embraced not only by proponents of humanistic principles in criminal justice but also by advocates of a rationalistic approach to maintaining law and order in society and the state. A prevalent trend in modern penitentiary policy is the expansion of legal boundaries and practices involving criminal penalties and measures not involving the isolation of convicts from society. Strategic planning documents for the development of the penal system of the Russian Federation emphasize ongoing modernization efforts, particularly the adoption of alternative state coercive measures to imprisonment. However, an analysis of law enforcement practice reveals divergent trends that characterize the current state of penitentiary policy. Understanding these trends demands careful attention from the scientific community, legislators, and law enforcement authorities.

Legitimacy and Deeply Embedded Core Normative Values in Different Social Groups

Core normative value theory asserts that perceptions of the legitimacy of law enforcement authorities are not just a product of these agencies’ conduct and performance, but are also based on deeply embedded ideological worldviews. This study further tests the theory, exploring the diverse relationships between values and legitimacy in multicultural societies. We use Israel’s highly divided society as a case study. Our data were derived from a survey among a representative sample of more than 1,600 Israelis from seven social groups—mainstream Jews, ultra-Orthodox Jews, Jewish residents of the occupied territories, immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Druze, Muslims, and Arab Christians. The results point to significant differences in levels of the core normative values and legitimacy across the seven groups, and differences between the groups in associations between the values and legitimacy, controlling for socio-demographic variables. The findings support the main premises of the theory.

Az Europol-együttműködés tapasztalatai

Aim: The aim of the article is to present the practical experience of cooperation between Europol, which plays a key role in international criminal cooperation, and Hungary. Methodology: The author collected knowledge about the operation of Europol and its investigative support services by studying the available EU legislation, and by working as the Head of the Hungarian Liaison Bureau at Europol, as well as by carrying out the tasks of the former expert in the cyber-attacks priority and the deputy national EMPACT coordinator. Findings: Europol’s system of cooperation with the Member States and operational and strategic partners provides the law enforcement agencies of the countries concerned with an opportunity that no other agency, institution or organisation can offer. In addition to supporting specific investigations, the institutional system also provides countries with IT, strategic and financial support. Value: The article aims to provide a practical and comprehensive overview of the state of cooperation with Europol, to give a deeper insight into the day-to-day work of the law enforcement and judicial authorities and to provide the interested reader with contextualized insights into the steps and processes involved.