NCJ Number
94265
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1984) Pages: 7-19
Date Published
1984
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Organized crime has become a serious problem in Australia, and if it is to be countered, powers must be available for a proper and efficient investigation of organized crime enterprises, without undermining the rights and privileges of any brought to trial as a result of those investigations.
Abstract
There is a widespread organization of criminal activity throughout Australia, and this organization is separate from so-called street crime, although there are important links with some aspects of street crime. By any Australian commercial standards, organized crime is a major industry, and the techniques used involve the breach of laws relating to companies, taxation, foreign exchange, immigration, and countless others. Further, organized crime has designed its activities to make detection and investigation extremely difficult, such that it is impossible to investigate its activities simply in one State or Territory. Organized crime destructively impacts individuals through the violence and intimidation used when anyone stands in its way and through the debilitating effects on those abusing the drugs marketed by organized crime. Also, organized crime has a destructive impact on legitimate business, as they buy into legitimate business with tax-free, laundred money and operate their businesses in ways that make it difficult for honest business persons to compete in markets targeted by organized crime. The most successful method of identifying and convicting major organized crime figures is to follow the trail of money generated by their activities. Further, conviction should lead to the sanction of taking away the money and assets gained through illegal activities. To facilitate the tracing of the money trails of organized crime, an official body should be given the power to monitor all forms of monetary transactions, governed by suitable protections. Rules of evidence should require all witnesses to reveal information and supply documents. However, any self-incrmininating information obtained should not be admitted as evidence in any subsequent efforts to convict the witness of a crime.