International Police Cooperation in Combating Cross-Border Crime

 

The growth in cross-border crime is going on in many countries today. The development of increasingly sophisticated facilities for rapid travel has made it easier for criminals to move around the world. At the same time, the complex structures of modern societies and the constant growth of international exchanges provide more and more opportunities for international criminal activity, which has expanded enormously now and reached alarming proportions. Individuals and companies are being subjected to increasing pressure from criminals, leading to widespread feelings of insecurity.

The term ‘international crime’, although in common use, does not necessarily refer to specific types of offence defined in law. When criminal acts, deals and schemes violate the laws of more than one country, they are said to be cross-border, transnational or international crimes.

The UN has classified all transnational crimes into 17 groups: money laundering; terrorism; theft of art works and culture oblects; theft of intellectual property; illicit arms trade; hijacking of planes; piracy; hijacking on highways; fraud in insurance; computer-related crime; ecological crime; trade in humans; trade in human organs; drug trafficking; sham bankruptsy; penetrating legal business; corruption and bribing public figures, party leaders and elected officials.

Some offencies are covered by international conventions, for instance, currency counterfeiting (1929 Convention), trafficking in human bodies and the exploitation of prostitution (1949 Convention), and drug trafficking (1998 Convention).

Other offences, however, can be classified as ‘international’ because of the behaviour of the offenders. For instance, preparations for committing an offence may be made in one country while the actual offences committed in one or more countries. To take another example, similar offences may be committed one after the other in several different countries. Finally, an offender may escape across a border after committing his offence, he may transfer his illicit gains abroad or he may conceal objects or documents used to commit the offence in another country.

Tracing and arresting such offenders may prove extremely difficult; problems can arise in connection with exchanging information, identification, international investigations and subsequent extradition. Because of these problems, police services in different countries must work together if they are to combat international crime successfully.

 

Ex. 10. Match the words with an opposite meaning.

1) development a) easy

2) criminal b) obey

3) complex c) insecurity

4) increasing d) legal

5) security e) worsening

6) violate f) law-abiding citizen

7) public g) decreasing

8) illicit h) local

 

Ex. 11. Make up word combinations.

1) cross-border a) exchanges

2) sophisticated b) extradition

3) international c) proportion

4) criminal d) crime

5) alarming e) laundering

6) money f) activity

7) currency g) facilities

8) subsequent h) counerfeiting

 

Ex. 12. Complete the sentences.

 

1.The growth in cross-border crime … 2. The constant growth of international... 3. Individuals and companies are subjected to... 4. The term ‘international crime’does not … 5. When criminal acts, deals and schemes violate the laws of more than one country… 6. The UN has classified … 7. Other offences, however, can be classified … 8. Police services in different countries must work …

a) necessarily refer to specific types of offence defined in law. b) increasing pressure from criminals. c) work together if they are to combat international crime successfully. d) as ‘international’ because of the behaviour of the offenders. e) is going on in many countries today. f) more opportunities for international criminal activity. g) all transnational crimes into 17 groups. h) they are said to be cross-border, transnational or international crimes.

 

Ex. 13. Answer the questions.

1. What developments made it easier for criminals to move around the world?

2. Who are being subject to increasing pressure from criminals?

3. What does term ‘international crime’ mean?

4. How many groups of transnational crimes can you name according to UN’s classification?

5. What offences are covered by international conventions?

6. Why is it difficult to trace and arrest international criminals?

7. Why must police services in different countries work together?

Text 2

Organized Crime

Vocabulary for reading the text:

1. to run – возглавлять, руководить

2. to involve – вовлекать

3. to ban – запрещать

4. den – притон

5. mainland – материк

6. to settle – селиться

7. gambling – азартные игры

8. to swear (swore, sworn) – клясться

9. to result – следовать, кончаться

10. to publicize - оглашать