NCJ Number
65986
Date Published
1975
Length
25 pages
Annotation
THIS INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION REPORT DISCUSSES THE FINDINGS OF A 1975 INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CRIME IN PORT AND DOCK AREAS AND WAYS TO CONTROL AND DETER SUCH CRIME.
Abstract
PARTICIPANTS IN THE SYMPOSIUM WERE SWEDEN, BELGIUM, CANADA, THE U. S., NETHERLANDS, UNITED KINGDOM, INDIA, NIGERIA, AND ITALY, AS WELL AS THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT AND SEAPORT POLICE. IN THE MAJORITY OF PORTS, THEFTS OF GOODS WERE FROM STORES WITHIN THE PORT AREA OR FROM SHIPS. VARIOUS SPEAKERS STRESSED THAT SYSTEMATIC REPORTING BY SHIPS' CAPTAINS TO THE POLICE SERVICES WOULD HELP COMBAT THIS TYPE OF CRIME. LOSSES FROM THESE CRIMES WERE HIGH, SINCE THERE WAS LITTLE COLLABORATION BETWEEN SHIPPING COMPANIES, AND POLICE AND VICTIMS TENDED TO REPORT LOSSES TO INSURANCE COMPANIES RATHER THAN TO THE POLICE. OTHER OFFENSES COMMON TO PORT AND DOCK AREAS WERE FRAUD, DRUG TRAFFICKING, THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND PRIVATE YACHTS, ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, CIGARETTE AND CURRENCY SMUGGLING, FIREARMS TRAFIC, AND, IN AFRICA, TRAFFIC IN IVORY TUSKS. THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS WERE OFTEN FOUND IN CONNECTION WITH THEFT: CONFUSION IN PORT AND DOCK AREAS, A CONSPIRACY, AND A COMMON DENOMINATOR (USUALLY THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE LORRY). THREE CATEGORIES OF ORGANIZED CRIME OFFENDERS WERE DISTINGUISHED: PERSONS OPERATING INDIVIDUALLY IN THE PORT AREAS, OFFENDERS OPERATING IN GROUPS, AND MEMBERS OF ORGANIZED CRIME SYNDICATES. THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES WAS EMPHASIZED. ALSO DISCUSSED WAS THE NEED OF POLICE SERVICES TO FIGHT POLLUTION OFFENSES. AS FOR PORT POLICE FORCES, IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES A NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE POLICED THE PORT, WHILE IN OTHERS SEVERAL POLICE SERVICES WORKED IN COOPERATION WITH CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES OR WITH OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES. OFTEN, VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WORKED IN COLLABORATION WITH EACH OTHER. ORGANIZATION OF PORT POLICE SERVICES WAS COMPLEX AND GOVERNED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF EACH COUNTRY. IT WAS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL THAT COUNTRIES HAVE DEFINITE PREVENTION POLICIES OR STRATEGIES, AND THE NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN DEALING WITH PORT CRIME WAS HIGHLIGHTED. ALSO NEEDED WERE COOPERATION BETWEEN ALL SERVICES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND CENTRALIZED INFORMATION ABOUT PORT CRIME AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. MOREOVER, PORT POLICE NEEDED TO CONTACT INTERPOL WHENEVER A CASE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE INTERNATIONAL RAMIFICATIONS.