Organised Crime, Corruption and the Movement of People Across Borders in the New Enlarged EU: A Case Study of Estonia, Finland and the UK

• NCJ Number: 215180
• Author(s): Jon Spencer; Kauko Aromaa; Mika Junninen; Anna Markina; Juri Saar; Terhi Vijanen
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: United Nations European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control (HEUNI)
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Finland
• Note: HEUNI Paper No. 24

Annotation

Focusing on Estonia, Finland, and the United Kingdom, this report presents interim conclusions from an investigation of corruption by organized crime in the areas of border control and immigration, using a case study of the Finnish-Russian and the Estonian-Russian border.

Abstract

One conclusion is that the overall response to illegal immigration in the three countries primarily involves law enforcement or criminal justice strategies. The United Kingdom uses REFLEX teams under the operational direction of chief constables to address illegal immigration within their jurisdiction. These teams cooperate with one another. A second interim conclusion is that there are many different forms of crime groups operating in the illegal immigration enterprise. In addressing illegal immigration, it is important to understand the areas in which various crime groups operate, since they do not appear to be involved across all types of illegal immigration. A third conclusion is that there is no apparent systematic and organized corruption of public officials in connection with illegal immigration. The study has also concluded that there was a large, active market in the supply of forged documents linked to illegal immigration enterprises. Another finding is that the movement of illegal immigrants is not random, as the choice of destination countries is apparently based on historical associations and connections with family and friends. The investigation methodology involved the exchange of information between key law enforcement personnel in each country. Each country has a Local Network Group composed of law enforcement professionals with responsibility for immigration, border control, organized crime, and prosecutions. At the interim and final report stages, these groups combine to form a Project Network group, which reviews and interprets the research data. This Interim Project Report is partly the product of the Project Network Group that met in January 2006. 7 references