In plain sight – developing strategic responses to corporatised organised crime
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-08-2019-0112 |
| Pages | 619-633 |
| Date | 28 January 2020 |
| Published date | 28 January 2020 |
| Author | Kenneth Murray |
| Subject Matter | Financial risk/company failure,Accounting & Finance |
In plain sight –developing
strategic responses to
corporatised organised crime
Kenneth Murray
Department of Forensic Accountancy, Police Scotland, Stirling, UK
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to consider theways organised crime exerts influence in legitimate commercial
markets through its ability to act through corporate vehicles. Discussion of weaknesses in company
registration proceduresand the criminal justice system that enable this to happen.Development of strategic
rather thantactical responses is proposed to counter it.
Design/methodology/approach –The paper presentscase studies based on practitioner experience and
discussespoints that arise.
Findings –This paper considers the extentto which the problem represents a threat to the well-being and
competitivenessof domestic commercial markets and how thesethreats can be most effectively addressed.
Research limitations/implications –This is a point of view paper authored by a practitioner with
professionalexpertise in the field.
Practical implications –There is a need to develop strategic cross-agency responses to this problem.
This will develop better levelsof precautionary awareness of how these influences can establishfootholds in
commercial markets and provide a sounder basisfor taking effective measures to contain and counter their
influence.
Social implications –The social implications relate to the distorting influence of money derived from
crime beingdeployed in legitimate spheres.
Originality/value –The originality/valueof this paper is to raise awareness and re-invigorate discussion
on the influence of organisedcrime in legitimate commercial markets.
Keywords Crime, Abuse, Corporate, Vehicle, Organized
Paper type Viewpoint
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise
before defeat. Sun Tzu
Introduction
The standard law enforcement response to the “wicked problem”of organised crime is
based on what is referred to as “intelligence led policing”. The available intelligence on
suspect groups, gangs and individuals is assessed in accordance with organised crime
mapping processes which use harm matrices to derive ranking scores. Theseare then used
to inform tasking decisions. The operational activity that is the product of the tasking
process aims to turn intelligence into evidence that can be used by prosecutors in the court
justice system.
The views expressed are those of the author alone and should not be read as representing those of
Police Scotland
Corporatised
organised
crime
619
Journalof Financial Crime
Vol.27 No. 2, 2020
pp. 619-633
© Emerald Publishing Limited
1359-0790
DOI 10.1108/JFC-08-2019-0112
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