Crime Research Articles

Heavy metal contamination and environmental risk assessment: a case study of surface water in the Bahr Mouse stream, East Nile Delta, Egypt

Water, as an indispensable constituent of life, serves as the primary source of sustenance for all living things on Earth. The contamination of surface water with heavy metals poses a significant global health risk to humans, animals, and plants. Sharkiya Governorate, situated in the East Nile Delta region of Egypt, is particularly susceptible to surface water pollution due to various industrial, agricultural, and urban activities. The Bahr Mouse Stream, crucial for providing potable water and supporting irrigation activities in Sharkiya Governorate, caters to a population of approximately 7.7 million inhabitants. Unfortunately, this vital water source is exposed to many illegal encroachments that may cause pollution and deteriorate the water resource quality. In a comprehensive study conducted over two consecutive seasons (2019–2020), a total of 38 surface water samples were taken to assess the quantity of heavy metals in surface water destined for human consumption and other applications, supported by indices and statistics. The assessment utilized flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the concentration of key heavy metals including iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and chromium (Cr). The calculated mean value of the Water Quality Index (WQI) was found to be 39.1 during the winter season and 28.05 during the summer season. This value suggests that the surface water maintains good quality and is suitable for drinking purposes. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that the concentrations of heavy metals in the study area were below the recommended limits set by the World Health Organization and fell within the safe threshold prescribed by Egyptian legislation. Despite the identification of localized instances of illegal activities in certain areas, such as unauthorized discharges, the findings affirm that the Bahr Mouse stream is devoid of heavy metal pollution. This underscores the importance of continued vigilance and regulatory enforcement to preserve the integrity of these vital water resources.

Sludges against Ponzi schemes

Pyramid schemes are adapting to the digitalisation era and mimicking various organisations. The organisers of these schemes quite often appeal to such human qualities as greed and the desire to get rich quickly. Thus, it is becoming increasingly relevant to develop new methods for countering pyramid schemes taking into account modern realities and behavioural characteristics of an individual decisionmaker. The focus of the research is on selecting sludge tools to fight against digital pyramid schemes. Methodologically, the study relies on the concepts of behavioural economics, in particular, of the nudge theory (nudges vs sludges). The methods include brainstorming, focus groups. The evidence comes from primary qualitative research, in-depth interviews with both non-professional investors and experts in the field of financial market held in 2022. The analysis allowed defining the concept of sludge and present the types of sludge tools. The paper provides an original list of sludge tools as well as a set of practical tools to counter pyramid schemes, which, in particular, consists of legal restrictions, monitoring of Ponzi schemes’ activities, financial enlightenment, a legal information system, self-coordination of investors, and an individual approach. The paper concludes that sludge tools differ in terms of the length of impact and the speed of obtaining a result. Short-term sludges generate a fast effect and prevent from investing in pyramid schemes without preliminary preparation of participants; they, for instance, include placing a poster with a warning against Ponzi schemes, ensuring a careful reading of the contract, mandatory familiarisation with the List of entities with detected signs of illegal activities in the financial market created by the Bank of Russia, taking a risk test for assessing the probability of a decreased price or lost asset, ensuring advice of a financial counsellor as an obligatory stage of investment. The findings contribute to the understanding of the need for proactive (preventive) measures’ development aimed at countering fraudulent schemes.

Spatio-Temporal Network-based Bank Transactional Behavior Analysis to Detect Suspicious Activities

Money laundering refers to the act of disguising the proceeds of illegal activities as legitimate funds. This is a significant problem as it enables criminals to profit from illegal activities and finance further criminal endeavors. Money laundering is also linked to other crimes, such as drug trafficking, terrorism financing, and corruption. To combat money laundering, governments and financial institutions have implemented various measures, such as Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws, and the use of financial intelligence units. However, the existing money laundering system is complex, making it difficult to detect and prevent money laundering activities. Many current systems rely on outdated technology and manual processes, which can be time-consuming and prone to error. Therefore, there is a need for effective detection and prevention systems that can identify suspicious transactions and patterns of behavior. This project aims to prevent and detect money laundering activities by identifying suspicious transactions and monitoring the movement of funds through the financial system. The proposed system uses Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) to detect and prevent money laundering activities. By analyzing the data in a time-series format, LSTM can identify unusual patterns of transactions and flag them for further investigation. LSTM can also predict future trends in financial data, allowing for the detection and prevention of potential money laundering activities before they occur. The proposed transactional network and behavior analysis system provides a more efficient and accurate method for identifying potential money laundering activities. This system can ultimately lead to a more effective and efficient anti-money laundering system. Keywords: Anti-Money laundering, Long short-term memory, Legitimate funds, Transaction network, behavior analysis, Time series format

Efektivitas Hukum Kawasan Konservasi Perairan Maluku Utara: Studi Kasus Pulau Rao

The use of prohibited fishing gear continues to pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems. The Regional Water Conservation Area Agency (Balai Kawasan Konservasi Perairan Daerah or KKPD) in North Maluku plays a crucial role in educating the public on responsible fishing practices for the sustainability of the region. However, insufficient socialization and monitoring in the conservation area of Pulau Mare have led to illegal fishing activities that harm the ecosystem. Lack of transparency in information regarding the performance of the KKPD becomes a challenge, leaving the community unaware of the progress in surveillance, rehabilitation, and utilization by the agency. This research analyzes the legal effectiveness of water conservation area management in North Maluku Province, focusing on the Pulau Rao-Tanjung Dehegila Conservation Area. The research employs a juridical-empirical method with primary data obtained through interviews and secondary data from literature studies. Ministerial Decree No. 67/KEPMEN-KP/2020 and Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation No. 31/PERMEN-KP/2020 mandate proper management. However, the implementation of these regulations has yet to be effective. In conclusion, water conservation area management in North Maluku requires increased socialization to raise awareness and garner public support for established programs. Further efforts are needed to ensure the effectiveness of these programs.

Aggression management of criminal offenders in prison setting

IntroductionA new approach of social therapy for criminal offenders was applied in Penalty Facility in Niš, Serbia. It is based on three month peer-training focusing on recognizing of triggers for anger, understanding emotional manifestation and learning socially acceptable ways of anger expression.ObjectivesTo estimate how the impact of pear-based training influences the level of agression of criminal offenders in prison settings.MethodsOne hander and six prisoners were randomly assigned to program. The six previously educated inmates trained the participants through 12 work-shops. An independent professional evaluated change in aggression levels after training using Buss&Perry Aggression Scale. We compared subgroups with shorter versus longer sentences pre and post training using Student’s t test. And univariate logistic regression analysis for impacts of sociodemographic variables on aggression scores.ResultsWe found a significant higher scores of anger (6.6 ± 4.7 & 11.8 ± 4.2, p=0,043) hostility (15.5 ± 8 & 20.1 ± 6.5, p=0,029) and total aggression (32 ± 14 & 48 ± 21, p=0,023 in subgroup with longer sentences at baseline. After training anger (12.4 ± 4.8 & 15.5 ± 5.6, p= 0,0167), physical aggression (14.6 ± 51. & 17.2 ± 5.6 ,p=0,024) and total aggression score (55.5 ± 14.1 & 68.2 ± 18, p=0,0152) remained higher in the group with sentences more than five years. Lower education level is associated with undesirable outcome-higher level of aggression after training.ConclusionsThree months training was not sufficient for adopting skills for better control of aggressive behavior in criminal offenders never the less the length of the sentences.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Hidden Risks of Economic Abuse through Company Directorships

Economic abuse is a form of family violence that severely inhibits victim survivors’ capacities to rebuild their lives. Although its effects are widely felt, it remains a hidden problem. This article contributes to the burgeoning scholarship on economic abuse by investigating its perpetuation through family-owned companies. Victim survivors commonly bear the liability for business failure and phoenix activity as ‘straw’ directors. Recent reforms introduced to deter and penalise illegal phoenix activity have increased the risks for survivors who are coerced or defrauded into becoming directors. The study examines how corporate law and the courts have responded to straw directors in the context of family companies. It interrogates the notion that victim survivors assume responsibility for business decisions voluntarily, as rational economic men with relatively equal bargaining power. This article proposes reforms to disrupt harm from economic abuse through coerced directorships, and to militate against the unintended consequence of recent reforms.

Spatial analysis of outdoor indecent assault risk: a study using ambient population data

Spatiotemporal data on ambient populations have recently become widely available. Although previous studies have indicated a link between the spatial patterns of crime occurrence and ambient population distribution, more detailed information, such as the population most likely to be victims by gender and age group, could better predict the risk of crime occurrence. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the risk of indecent assault, a typical crime with a high number of young female victims, in southern Kyoto Prefecture. We utilized population distribution by gender and age group at different times of the day. After extracting daily patterns (factors) of the population using non-negative matrix factorization, we statistically modeled the risk of indecent assault using a spatial conditional autoregressive model. The results showed that the model, which considered a spatiotemporal ambient population, demonstrated superior performance during nighttime hours. Furthermore, by interpreting the factors significantly associated with the risk of crime occurrence, the findings provided valuable insights into local crime prevention measures that consider daily temporal changes in the gender and age-group composition of individuals present in a specific area.

National Security Threats in the Indonesian Border Areas with Timor Leste

The border area between Indonesia and Timor Leste is an area that is vulnerable to national security threats. This situation is caused by various factors, such as differences in socio-economic conditions, illegal cross-border activities, and the potential for conflict between countries both countries. Some of these problems certainly require the role of the government, institutions and society to be resolved properly. The purpose of this writing is to analyze national security threats in the border area between Indonesia and Timor Leste. This paper uses qualitative methods which can provide a description and description of the phenomenon being studied. The results of this research show that the conditions of the RDTL and NKRI border areas in NTT Province do not yet show an ideal picture. The advice that author can give are to increase cooperation in exchanging intelligence data and joint border security operations; build and modernize border post infrastructure and patrol roads; increasing TNI and Polri personnel stationed in border areas; carry out outreach and empowerment of border communities, encourage ratification of the extradition agreement between Indonesia and Timor Leste and establish cooperation and capacity building assistance for Timor Leste in border control.

Dark Web Financial Fraud Identification Using Mathematical Models in Healthcare Domain

The so-called "dark web" has emerged as the most trustworthy platform for thieves to launch their enterprises. The healthcare industry has become a haven for illegal activities such as the sale of medical gadgets, trafficking in human beings, and the purchase of organs. This is because the sector provides a high level of privacy, which makes it an ideal location for engaging in unlawful operations. In this field of research, linear regression is utilized to uncover previously unknown patterns in customer demand. A vector will be created using a time series of medical equipment purchases to do this. When we look at the data the case firm gave us, we notice that people tend to desire to purchase products in one of three ways. After that, we sort the hospitals into groups according to the course of the trend vector by employing a technique known as "hierarchical clustering," which we apply to the data. According to the research findings, the trend-based clustering method is an excellent way to partition hospitals into subgroups that share similar tendencies. According to our model evaluations, no one model can reliably produce the most accurate forecasts for each cluster when used by itself. Some models can be utilized to make accurate predictions, and these models apply to a wide variety of time series that exhibit various patterns.

Implementing Blockchain in the Management of Organ Donation and Transplantation

Abstract: Current organ donation and transplantation systems suffer from vulnerabilities to scams and lack of transparency, hindering trust and efficiency. This proposal introduces a groundbreaking blockchain-based solution that combats both issues. By leveraging the blockchain's security and immutability, the system detects and predicts potential scams through AI analysis of realtime data, notifying authorities immediately. Additionally, it strengthens security and trust by ensuring secure participant identities, controlled access to sensitive information, and automated processes via smart contracts. This not only reduces the risk of illegal activity but also fosters fairness and participation, ultimately transforming the system into a life-saving model of transparency and trust. But that's not all. Blockchain securely stores identities, encrypts sensitive information, and automates tasks with smart contracts, eliminating the human error and shady dealings that plague the current system. This creates a web of trust, empowering donors, recipients, and medical professionals alike. The result? A system that's not just secure, but fair and efficient, saving lives and restoring faith in this vital field. It's time to transplant trust into organ donation, and blockchain is the fertile ground for its growth

Criminological Aspects of the Motivation of Individuals Belonging to Organized Criminal Groups of an Extremist Nature

The article is devoted to the study of criminological aspects of the motivation of persons joining organized criminal groups of an extremist nature. The author of the study analyzes various factors that may contribute to involvement in criminal groups and their illegal activities in such groups, the motives for their participation in extremist activities. The article examines the psychological, social and ideological factors that influence the formation and support of the motivation of participants in organized criminal groups with an extremist nature. Examples of interactions between various individual and social factors that contribute to the formation of radical beliefs and readiness to commit extremist acts are given. In addition, the features of the motivation of individuals belonging to organized extremist groups are analyzed with the aim of their classification. The author of the article comes to the conclusion that understanding the motivation of individuals who join extremist organized criminal groups is important for developing appropriate tactics and methods for preventing and suppressing extremist activities. Overall, the article represents a comprehensive study of the criminological aspects of the motivation of individuals belonging to organized criminal groups with an extremist nature, and is an important contribution to the field of criminology and criminal activity.

CRYPTOCURRENCY MARKET DYNAMICS: TRENDS, RISK AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES

The cryptocurrency market is a rapidly evolving landscape, characterized by its innovative nature and potential for significant economic disruption. This abstract delves into the intricate dynamics of the cryptocurrency market, focusing on the latest trends, inherent risks, and the burgeoning regulatory challenges that shape its future. Recent years have witnessed a surge in cryptocurrency adoption, with digital assets becoming increasingly mainstream. But there have been risks associated with this increase as well. One distinguishing characteristic of the market is still its volatility, which is fueled by mood in the market and speculative trading. Offers particular risks as well, such as worries about security and the possibility of illegal activity. Global regulatory organizations are struggling to provide comprehensive frameworks while encouraging creativity. The SEC’s recent actions against high-profile entities for offering unregistered securities highlight the intensified scrutiny within the sector. Moreover, policy adjustments by major exchanges, such as Hash Key Exchange’s halt on transactions with Binance, reflect the complex interplay between market operations and regulatory compliance. This abstract emphasizes the necessity of a well-rounded strategy that protects investors without impeding the technological breakthroughs that cryptocurrencies offer. As participants in navigating the cryptocurrency ecosystem effectively.

Tracking illegal activities using video surveillance systems: a review of the current state of research

The current state of research on the use of the neural networks under martial law to identify offenders committing illegal acts, prevent acts of terrorism, combat sabotage groups in cities, track weapons and control traffic is considered. The methods of detecting illegal actions, weapons, face recognition and traffic violations using video surveillance cameras are analysed. It is proposed to introduce the studied methods into the work of “smart” video surveillance systems in Ukrainian settlements.
 The most effective means of reducing the number of offences is the inevitability of legal liability for offences, so many efforts in law enforcement are aimed at preventing offences. Along with public order policing by patrol police, video surveillance is an effective way to prevent illegal activities in society. Increasing the coverage area of cameras and their number helps to ensure public safety in the area where they are used. However, an increase in the number of cameras creates another problem which is the large amount of video data that needs to be processed. To solve the problem of video data processing, various methods are used, the most modern of which is the use of artificial intelligence to filter a large amount of data from video cameras and the application of various video processing algorithms. The ability to simultaneously process video data from many CCTV cameras without human intervention not only contributes to public safety, but also improves the work of patrol police. The introduction of smart video surveillance systems allows monitoring the situation in public places around the clock, even if there is no police presence in the area.
 In the reviewed studies of video surveillance systems, neural networks, in particular MobileNet V2, YOLO, mYOLOv4-tiny, are used to track illegal actions, criminals and weapons, which are trained on large amounts of video and photo data. It has been found that although neural networks used to require a lot of computing power, they can now be used in IoT systems and smartphones, and this contributes to the fact that more video surveillance devices can be used to monitor the situation.

IMPLEMENTATION OF PROVIDING LEGAL AID TO CHILDREN AS PERPETRATORS OF THE CRIME OF OBSCENITY

IMPLEMENTATION OF PROVIDING LEGAL AID TO CHILDREN AS PERPETRATORS OF THE CRIME OF OBSCENITY

Navigating illegal land use in the quest for a just energy transition

Illegal land use inhibits available land for renewable resource development and hinders a just energy transition, posing a significant challenge to sustainability. This article utilizes the TOE (Technology, Organization, Environment) framework to examine the impact of under-regulation on illegal land use in China. By employing a multidisciplinary approach, the study navigates the complexities of unscrupulous land practices and uncovers their socio-economic and environmental implications. Findings from panel data analysis covering the period of 1999 to 2009 reveal several key insights. Firstly, inadequate technology hampers regulators' ability to detect illegal activities, leading to an increase in the area of illegal land use. Secondly, a high turnover rate of regulatory officers is linked to lower levels of punishment for illegal land use, thereby contributing to an expansion of illegal land use. Thirdly, a permissive government-business environment hinders the effective enforcement of the land approval system, thereby restraining the prevention of illegal land use. Through case studies and policy analyses, the research aims to reveal the challenges and obstacles arising from illegal land use in transitioning to a cleaner energy future. The findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the obstacles posed by illegal land use, offering insights to policymakers, industry stakeholders, and advocates in navigating towards a more equitable and sustainable energy landscape.

Specific features of obtaining and using electronic evidence in criminal proceedings

The relevance and importance of this research is due to the fact that scientific and technological progress and rapid development of information technology in all spheres of public life have significantly influenced the emergence of new types of criminal offences. Criminals are using computer systems and other portable devices to commit unlawful acts with increasing frequency. Today, many criminal offences are being committed with the help of information technology around the world, ranging from simple online fraud to the threat of a territorial act. Therefore, one of the ways to record (document) such illegal activities effectively is to obtain (collect) electronic evidence by law enforcement agencies in criminal proceedings. In this regard, the key role is played by evidence, which helps to form an evidence base that makes it possible to notify a person of suspicion, send an indictment to the court and make a final court decision on the guilt (innocence) of a person in committing a particular criminal offence. Achievement of this objective undoubtedly necessitates a specific legal procedure for seizure of electronic evidence in criminal proceedings, which is not yet clearly defined in terms of its collection, leading to numerous cases of courts declaring such evidence inadmissible.
 In the course of the scientific research, the author of the article analyses the views of scholars on the interpretation of the concept of electronic evidence; provides the legislative interpretation of this term (unlike the CPC of Ukraine, other procedural codes enshrine the concept of electronic evidence); studies the case law on the issue of electronic evidence being admissible/inadmissible; and identifies the main features of electronic evidence, etc.
 Given the fact that the Russian Federation commits war crimes on the territory of Ukraine on a daily basis, the author states the need to collect and record evidence of such crimes from open sources, which will further ensure the prosecution of the perpetrators.
 In the course of studying the specific features of obtaining and using electronic evidence in criminal proceedings, the author applied general scientific and special scientific methods, in particular, dialectical, formal and logical, and comparative legal methods. The interrelated use of these methods allowed for a comprehensive study, where each of these methods was used at a certain stage of the examination of the specific features of obtaining and using electronic evidence in criminal proceedings.

Combating Economic Crime in Ukraine In Conditions of Sustainable Development

Purpose: The study is devoted to clarifying the system of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine in the field of prevention and counteraction of economic crime, determining the directions of transformation of individual agencies in order to improve the efficiency of their activities in this area. Methods: The methodological basis of the study was general philosophical and general scientific methods of learning phenomena and processes: theoretical generalization, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, systematization, analogy, systematization, generalization, bibliometric analysis, modeling. Results and discussion: It was established that economic crimes are threats to the economic security of the state, consisting in the implementation of illegal economic activity (economic processes, relations, operations) or violation of requirements for legal economic activity to satisfy the selfish interests of a person or a group of persons. The specific features of economic crime prevention and counteraction entities that implement the law enforcement function in Ukraine as a component of economic security in conditions of sustainable development are highlighted. The procedure and forms of interaction of law enforcement agencies in the specified area under martial law conditions have been determined. Proposals were made to the legislation to increase the efficiency of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine as an analytical law enforcement agency in countering economic criminal offenses. Implications of the research: This research has theoretical and applied significance. From the theoretical side - to determine the essence and content of economic crime, to clarify the system of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine in the field of prevention and counteraction of economic crime. From a practical point of view, proposals of a theoretical, methodological and legislative nature will contribute to the development of the most effective ways of combating crime in this area, will help to understand the place and role of such a law enforcement body with a special status as the Bureau of Economic Security in the specified activity of the state. Originality/value: The tasks of law enforcement agencies in combating economic crimes in the conditions of martial law and hybrid warfare are becoming extremely important in many countries, as they are aimed at ensuring the financing of defense capabilities and ensuring sustainable development. The author's proposals formulated in the research will contribute to the understanding of economic crime, form an idea about the powers and directions of improvement of the activities of law enforcement agencies in combating crime in this area.

Exploring the impact of trauma-adapted yoga in forensic psychiatry

The specialized field of forensic psychiatry deals with the care of criminal offenders who suffer from severe mental disorders. As this field is positioned at the intersection of illness, crime, and security, it poses complex challenges. While high-quality clinical studies in forensic psychiatry settings are limited, recent investigations have suggested yoga as a complementary clinical tool within correctional environments. This report of a quasi-experimental study examines the impact of a 10-week trauma-adapted yoga intervention on mental health, antisocial and aggressive behaviors, pain perception, cravings, and character maturity among 56 patients in various forensic psychiatry clinics across Sweden. In the current study, the yoga group demonstrated noteworthy reductions in negative affect states, anxiety, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideations, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, and overall psychological distress. These reductions were not observed in the comparison group. Additionally, the yoga group exhibited a significant decrease in pain frequency and strengthened self-directedness. However, there were no significant changes in aggressive, antisocial, or self-harm behaviors or cravings in either group. The between-group analyses did not yield significant results, except for pain intensity. The trauma-adapted yoga intervention implemented within forensic psychiatry settings shows feasibility and results in multiple positive changes in patients’ health.

The Jargon of «AUE» Criminal Organization (from the Practice of Forensic Linguistic Examinations)

The criminal plans disclosure and the illegal activities suppression, the implementation of forensic linguistic examinations is complicated by the presence of a special secret language in the criminal world. In this regard, it is necessary to study and systematize such jargon, create vocabularies. The extremist organization «Prisoner Criminal Unity» (AUE), the study of the jargon of which is undertaken in this article is especially dangerous and the most closed. The article is devoted to the consideration of some features of the language characteristic for AUE representatives concerning naming, abbreviation, word formation, obligatory cliched expressions at meetings and in the epistolary genre. It is established that the speech of the AUE representatives reflects their mental values, among which they themselves call the thieves’ brotherhood, the thieves’ family and strict adherence to its principles. The language of this extremist organization is difficult to learn largely due to the fact that it lacks a common governing body, a leader, and each place of detention has its own leader, its own language rules and features. These linguistic units are either not recorded in the criminal jargon dictionaries, or have territorial specifics. A short dictionary of basic language units used by representatives of AUE in places of detention of the Southern Federal District of the Russian Federation is proposed.

Lower autonomic arousal as a risk factor for criminal offending and unintentional injuries among female conscripts.

Lower autonomic arousal is a well-known correlate of criminal offending and other risk-taking behaviors in men, but few studies have investigated this association in women. To test associations between autonomic arousal and criminal offending as well as unintentional injuries among female conscripts. All women born 1958-1994 in Sweden who participated in voluntary military conscription (n = 12,499) were identified by linking Swedish population-based registers. Predictors were resting heart rate (RHR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Covariates were height, weight, and physical energy capacity. Main outcomes were criminal convictions (any, violent, and non-violent) from the National Crime Register. Secondary outcome was unintentional injuries requiring medical treatment or causing death. We used survival analyses to test for associations between predictors and outcomes. Low RHR, relative to high RHR, was associated with an increased risk of any criminal conviction, non-violent criminal convictions, and unintentional injuries. Low SBP, relative to high SBP, was associated with an increased risk of violent criminal convictions. Results support lower autonomic arousal, particularly lower RHR, as a correlate of criminal offending among women that warrants further examination, as the reported findings have potential implications for the prediction of future female crime.