A square go: tackling organised crime where it doesn't want to be tackled
| Date | 03 May 2013 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13685201311318458 |
| Pages | 99-108 |
| Published date | 03 May 2013 |
| Author | Kenneth Murray |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & finance |
A square go: tackling organised
crime where it doesn’t
want to be tackled
Kenneth Murray
Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, Livingston, UK
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advocate the inclusion and development within law
enforcement of relevant professional skills which will enable strategic analyses to be made of
organised crime groups as economic entities; the ultimate aim being to identify and neutralise the
distinctive capabilities which underpin their assessable competitive advantage.
Design/methodology/approach – Discussion of challenges facing law enforcement in tackling
the finances of organised crime and outline of an adapted business strategy model to identify the
characteristics of the competitive advantages exploited by economically successful organised crime
groups.
Findings – Money laundering remains a difficult crime to prosecute yet it is the key crime enabling
organised crime groups to develop their influence in our democracies. Law enforcement must broaden
their approach to disabling this crime by developing relevant skill sets which can analyse the
distinctive capabilities of organised crime groups as competitive economic players as a means of
identifying relevant options and opportunities to disrupt and dismantle them.
Research limitations/implications – The development of mature business strategy skills as part
of the law enforcement effort against organised crime is implied.
Practical implications – Adapting the culture of law enforcement to accommodate the relevant
professional skills required to effectively combat organised crime in the field of economic crime.
Social implications – Protecting democracies, democratic institutions and the communities they
serve through the improved effectiveness of measures taken against Organised Crime Groups.
Originality/value – It is hoped the paper will encourage debate on the topic.
Keywords Organised crime,Business analysis, Forensic accountancy,Criminals, Money laundering
Whenever governments issue new initiatives on tackling organised crime, prominence
is given to the need to tackle criminal finances. In the UK there is progressive legislation
designed to make it difficult or expensive to retain the proceeds of crime. Given that the
essential purposes of organised crime relate to financial success, it seems axiomatic that
the distinctive capabilities of organised crime which govern such success should be of
major interest to law enforcement. A proper understanding by law enforcement of these
capabilities and the competitive advantage they confer can enable cost effective
disruption, providing opportunities to dismantle organised crime groups and obtain
financial reward for the common good into the bargain. There is much evidence that
government and law enforcement in the UK are willing to “talk the talk” in this
area. The question of whether there is a readiness and ability to “walk the walk” is
perhaps another matter. Organised crime is tooled up and able to deliver to its
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1368-5201.htm
It should be noted that the views expressed in this paper are the views of the author alone and
should not be taken as being those of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.
Journal of Money Laundering Control
Vol. 16 No. 2, 2013
pp. 99-108
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1368-5201
DOI 10.1108/13685201311318458
Tackling
organised
crime
99
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