ORGANIZED CRIME IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY (FROM POLICE IN AUSTRALIA - DEVELOPMENT, FUNCTIONS AND PROCEDURES, 1977, BY KERRY L MILTE AND THOMAS A WEBER - SEE NCJ-50485)

• NCJ Number: 50493
• Author(s): R E DIXON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Butterworth Pty Ltd
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

AUSTRALIA'S POTENTIAL AS A TARGET OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ORGANIZED CRIME IS EXPLORED, AND GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES FOR MINIMIZING THE INFILTRATION OF ORGANIZED CRIME INTO THE COMMONWEALTH ARE SUGGESTED.

Abstract

IF AUSTRALIA'S IMAGE AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST RAPIDLY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IS ACCURATE, THEN AUSTRALIANS MUST BE PREPARED FOR THE UNDESIRABLE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR STATUS AS WELL AS THE MATERIAL BENEFITS. THE SOLID FINANCIAL REASONS FOR OVERSEAS INVESTMENT IN AUSTRALIA ARE AS ATTRACTIVE TO ILLICIT INVESTORS AS TO LEGITIMATE BUSINESS. SUBJECTED TO VIGOROUS TAX INVESTIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES, ORGANIZED CRIMINALS ARE LOOKING TO COUNTRIES LIKE AUSTRALIA AS OUTLETS FOR THEIR MONEY. THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT OVERSEAS INVESTMENT DOES NOT COME FROM ILLEGITIMATE SOURCES, THAT OVERSEAS CRIMINALS DO NOT ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN AUSTRALIA, AND THAT AUSTRALIA DOES NOT BECOME A LUCRATIVE MARKET FOR NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING. THE PUBLIC ALSO HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT IT WILL NOT BE DEFRAUDED BY DOMESTIC ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS WHICH DISREGARD TAX REQUIREMENTS AND EXPLOIT DEFICIENCIES IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM. IT IS A MISTAKE TO BELIEVE THAT IMMIGRATION CONTROL ALONE CAN PREVENT THE MOVEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINALS OR CRIMINAL GROUPS INTO AUSTRALIA. ANY EFFECTIVE ACTION AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME MUST BEGIN WITH RECOGNITION THAT THE PROBLEM DEMANDS FEDERAL ACTION. THERE APPEAR TO BE FOUR COURSES OF ACTION OPEN TO GOVERNMENT: ESTABLISHMENT OF EFFECTIVE CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE UNITS (INCLUDING LIAISON OFFICERS AT SELECTED POINTS OVERSEAS); THE CREATION OF AN ORGANIZED CRIME TASK FORCE, WITH REPRESENTATION FROM ALL AGENCIES HAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES; THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE REPOSITORY/CLEARINGHOUSE; AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL CRIME COMMISSION. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THE IMPORTANCE OF CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE GATHERING AS THE ONLY AVENUE THROUGH WHICH ORGANIZED CRIME CAN BE FULLY IDENTIFIED IN THE FIRST PLACE. SUBSEQUENT ACTION WILL DEPEND ON THE EXTENT OF THE THREAT REVEALED BY INTELLIGENCE EFFORTS. THE NEED TO EXPAND THE NATIONAL POLICE FORCE'S SPHERE OF OPERATION TO ENCOMPASS ORGANIZED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS ALSO NOTED. (LKM)