Takedown report into organised crime and terrorism launched
Takedown report into organised crime and terrorism launched
09/02/2017
Obstacles to tackling terrorism and organised crime highlighted in EU-funded study
A lack of international cooperation, skilled staff and communication are major obstacles in tackling terrorism and organised crime according to 'Takedown', a new report by Professor Vincenzo Ruggiero and Dr Rodolfo Leyva. It also highlights the inadequacy of social prevention measures to tackle both types of criminality.
The EU-funded project, which involves 18 partners, examines the causes, structures and activities of organised crime and terrorist networks, and assesses the efficacy of institutional and social responses to them.
In 'Takedown', the authors highlight the following concerns about institutional responses:
Lack of cooperation – the various political treaties and strategies aimed at fighting organised crime and terrorist networks provide little more than intentions and statements of principle
Lack of skilled technical staff, expertise and tools – only a few countries have the necessary types of technologies and rely on skilled professionals
Lack of communication – as recent terrorist attacks in Europe showed, national authorities do not communicate with each other or exchange data on suspects, or even convicts, making it extremely difficult to track criminals or prevent attacks.
In the area of social prevention, the report emphasises that little effort is made to help marginalised communities establish meaningful relationships with society at large; insufficient energy is spent in fighting social exclusion and Islamophobia; and military strategies implemented at the international level do not reduce, but exacerbate radicalisation.
Commenting on the study, lead author Vincenzo Ruggiero, Professor of Sociology at Middlesex, said: “Both organised crime and terrorist networks have become more complex and diverse. Globalisation and the internet have produced international networks of criminal experts and professionals. Responses cannot only take the form of law enforcement at home and war abroad. Social strategies aimed at inclusion, mutual understanding and dialogue are paramount."
Activities related to organised crime include illegal immigration, VAT and credit card fraud, cigarette smuggling, counterfeiting, weapons trafficking, money laundering, environmental and cybercrime, while the report provides a list of 60 international terrorist incidents that took place on the single day of 31 December 2015.
Takedown report into organised crime and terrorism launched
The EU-funded project, which involves 18 partners, examines the causes, structures and activities of organised crime and terrorist networks, and assesses the efficacy of institutional and social responses to them.
In 'Takedown', the authors highlight the following concerns about institutional responses:
In the area of social prevention, the report emphasises that little effort is made to help marginalised communities establish meaningful relationships with society at large; insufficient energy is spent in fighting social exclusion and Islamophobia; and military strategies implemented at the international level do not reduce, but exacerbate radicalisation.
Commenting on the study, lead author Vincenzo Ruggiero, Professor of Sociology at Middlesex, said: “Both organised crime and terrorist networks have become more complex and diverse. Globalisation and the internet have produced international networks of criminal experts and professionals. Responses cannot only take the form of law enforcement at home and war abroad. Social strategies aimed at inclusion, mutual understanding and dialogue are paramount."
Activities related to organised crime include illegal immigration, VAT and credit card fraud, cigarette smuggling, counterfeiting, weapons trafficking, money laundering, environmental and cybercrime, while the report provides a list of 60 international terrorist incidents that took place on the single day of 31 December 2015.