A critique of the official discourse on drug and sex trafficking by organised crime using data on asset recovery
| Published date | 04 May 2012 |
| Pages | 149-162 |
| Date | 04 May 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13590791211220421 |
| Author | Peter Sproat |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & finance |
A critique of the official discourse
on drug and sex trafficking by
organised crime using data on
asset recovery
Peter Sproat
Centre for Police and Criminal Justice Studies,
University of the West of Scotland, Hamilton, UK
Abstract
Purpose – The article aims to describe the role of asset recovery in combating drug and people
trafficking within the UK and the different means by which the proceeds of crime can be taken away
from such organised criminals.
Design/methodology/approach – The author uses official data on asset recovery to critically
analyse both the policing of drug trafficking in the UK and the official discourse on the extent, value
and costs to the country of the trafficking of women for sex by organised crime.
Findings – The article raises important questions about the credibility of the official estimates of the
scale of drug trafficking by organised crime and/or the management and funding of those tasked with
policing it within the UK.
Originality/value – The work provides either a more accurate guide on the extent, value and costs
to the country of the trafficking of women for sex or a much needed antithesis to the official discourse
on the topic.
Keywords Asset recovery,Proceeds of crime, Organized crime, Drugtrafficking, Sex trafficking,
Trafficking women,Drugs, Sex, United Kingdom
Paper type Research paper
The aims of this article using asset recovery data are two-fold. One is to critically
analyse the policing of drug trafficking in the UK. The second is to critique existing
ideas about the extent, value and costs to the country of the trafficking of women for
sex by organised crime. However, before culminating in such sections the article
justifies the methods used and describes both the role of asset recovery in combating
drug and people trafficking within the UK and the different means by which the
proceeds of crime can be taken away from such organised criminals.
The methods
The credibility of the articles’ methodology is based upon the acceptance of the “case
study” as a valid research method. Here it is suggested one can use data on asset
recovery to ascertain information about the policing of particular organised crimes.
This approach is similar to that found in the Home Office Report which originally
estimated both the annual revenues of organised crime in the UK and the criminal
assets available for seizure from them. In Organised crime: revenues, economic and
social costs, and criminal assets available for seizure the Home Office researchers
answered their own question: “Why estimate the value of assets available for seizure?”
by suggesting: “[i]t helps policy-makers understand the extent to which current asset
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1359-0790.htm
Drug and sex
trafficking
149
Journal of Financial Crime
Vol. 19 No. 2, 2012
pp. 149-162
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1359-0790
DOI 10.1108/13590791211220421
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