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Role of Intelligence in Combating Organised Crime

NCJ Number
212973
Journal
Crime & Justice International Volume: 21 Issue: 89 Dated: November/December 2005 Pages: 31-36
Author(s)
Jan Lidicky
Date Published
November 2005
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes an intelligence-driven approach to combating organized crime.
Abstract
Criminal markets can only be disrupted through the ongoing mapping of the criminal environment, the ongoing evaluation of risk, and the identification of strategies to interfere in criminal markets. Criminal intelligence for combating organized crime must extend beyond traditional law enforcement agencies to reach out to business, commerce, and academic industries as well as the general community. The author presents a cyclical, intelligence-driven model for combating organized crime that is based on four interrelated levels of action. The first level of action involves gathering and analyzing data concerning the current criminal environment. The second level of action is divided into courses of action for law enforcement, government, industry and commerce, and the general public. Law enforcement is directed to take follow-up tactical target development at level two while industry and commerce are directed to tightened internal processes highlighted as vulnerable during the environmental scan conducted at level one. The third level of action involves long and short term law enforcement tactical operations based on targets developed at level two. The fourth level of action is a comprehensive and ongoing evaluation of the actions taken at levels two and three. Many types of intelligence services are needed to engage in this intelligence driven approach, such as strategic intelligence, tactical intelligence, and operational intelligence. Aspects of information management, information collection, and collection priorities are discussed followed by a presentation of the some of the issues for executive management to consider when undertaking criminal intelligence operations. Exhibits