Allen, C (2023) Investigating organised crime - perspectives from within the police: A case study on business techniques and how can they be applied to analysing OCGs in a police setting. Doctoral thesis, Liverpool John Moores University.

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Abstract

The argument central to this thesis is that business analysis techniques can be transposed from use in a legitimate business situation to a criminal investigative standpoint. In an investigative situation, business analysis techniques can enhance investigation and provide insight into strategy development against organised crime groups (OCGs). Much of this research was conducted while working as a volunteer for City of London Police.
The methodology is multi-faceted and involves seven key strands:
1) Creation of a framework to analyse which key questions posed within current business analysis techniques are translatable to an organised crime context,
2) Creation of initial toolkit based on results of methodology 1.
3) Trial and improvement of initial toolkit by the author on a range of historical cases.
4) A survey distributed to the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) network to determine strengths and weaknesses of the toolkit and verify the core research concept.
5) In depth interviews conducted with law enforcement and academia for the same purpose as strand 4.
6) Further trial and adaption of the of toolkit on live cases following amendments by myself made after analysis of the results of methodologies 4 and 5.
7) The seventh strand involved detailed feedback from a series of live pilot on cases conducted by specially selected analysts in several law enforcement agencies.
Case study data was obtained from several law enforcement agencies with permission for academic analysis, but not for disclosure into the public domain; therefore, the results of the case study analysis, but not the raw intelligence itself, will be included in this submission. Because of the unique nature of each organised crime investigation, the quality of the intelligence data in each case study differs depending on the level of access granted and the level of intelligence granted to the lead law enforcement agency. To counteract this the thesis’ central argument was tested on organised crime groups that were involved in a variety of criminal activities including: fraud, drugs and counterfeiting. Following the conclusion of this methodological approach, the evidence amassed has allowed concrete conclusions to be drawn surrounding the applicability of business analysis techniques to enhance analysis of Organised Crime Groups (OCGs). These conclusions have been used to create a series of questions, which has the potential to make a tangible difference in the way in which investigative strategies are developed.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	organised crime; business analysis; policing; intelligence; investigation; strategy
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV7231 Criminal Justice Administrations > HV7551 Police. Detectives. Constabulary
Divisions:	Justice Studies (from Sep 19)
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	20 Mar 2023 10:05
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2023 10:06
DOI or ID number:	10.24377/LJMU.t.00019108
Supervisors:	Silverstone, D and James, A
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/19108

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