Spotlight on Corruption’s Post

A very well researched report (link below) sets out the case for reforming the UK's approach to crime by revising the Asset Recovery Incentive Scheme. Significant funds that have been deprived from criminals could be re-invested in a 'virtuous circle'. This is hampered by a lack of transparency, efficiency and strategic oversight. Financial Action Task Force (FATF) #crime #AML #corruption #amlcft #police

The "fuel" of the mafia and organized crime: * Socio-economic factors: * Poverty and inequality: create a breeding ground for recruiting new members, especially among young people who do not see prospects in legal life. * High unemployment rate: increases the number of potential recruits. * Corruption in government structures: allows the mafia to act with impunity, bribing officials and law enforcement officers. * Weak State institutions: ineffective law enforcement agencies and the judicial system create a sense of impunity. * Political factors: * Instability and political crises: weaken state control and create opportunities for the mafia to expand its influence. * Lack of political will to fight organized crime: allows the mafia to take root and flourish. * Cultural factors: Romanticizing the underworld: In some cultures, the image of the mafia can be attractive, especially for young people. * Code of Silence (omerta): It makes it difficult to investigate crimes and bring perpetrators to justice. The "food" of the mafia and organized crime: * Financial resources: * Income from illegal activities (drug trafficking, arms trafficking, prostitution, racketeering, gambling). * Money laundering through legitimate businesses. * Control over financial flows. * Power and influence: * Control over territories and entire sectors of the economy. * Influence on political processes and decisions. * Corruption of officials and law enforcement agencies. * Using violence and intimidation to achieve their goals. * Information resources: * Collecting and using information to blackmail, extort and eliminate competitors. * Control over communication channels. * Human resources: * Recruitment of new members, especially among young people. * A system of internal discipline and control. * Loyalty and dedication of the organization's members. It is important to understand that the mafia's "fuel" and "food" are interconnected and influence each other, creating a vicious circle. The fight against organized crime requires a comprehensive approach aimed at eliminating all these factors.

Hey Quinton Lucas. You remember that conversation we had a few weeks back about proactive versus reactive governance and how to fix crime in Kansas City? You and the elected officials pretty quickly put together a reactive plan to reimburse to a certain degree businesses that were broken into across the city. A big political win, right? But not something that works to stop crime at all. A Band-Aid, something to reimburse businesses after the fact. Nothing to help prevent crime. Where has the public comments been, or any other efforts to change policing in the River Market? I stopped corresponding with you in that prior social thread as it was becoming more and more apparent you had no desire to do anything but blame the structure for the problem and that you were unwilling to show leadership for the River Market community to help keep residents and businesses safe let alone try to protect property from Such crime. I now come to you as a business owner in the River Market that has been broken into for the second time in a little over a month. You see, we had discussed a lot of things, and I had asked for your assistance for proactive efforts to help the River Market. To help us stop crime, keep property and people safe - you refused a meeting at the River Market, you had a meeting in other parts of the city to talk to business owners about crime, specifically property crime. What, river market folks not on the top of that political list? Seeing that crime in the River Market continues to be the case, and seeing that we’ve been broken into for a second time. Curious what more it’s gonna take for you to take what’s going on in this area seriously? How many more times do we need to be broken into before you as the city leader starts to focus less on political wins such as reactive reimbursement and actually do something proactive to stop crime in this community? Again, I invite you, and bring whatever friends you want to. The police chief, the police commission, your prosecutor that you’re pushing for the coming election, your council member friends or whoever else you want, let’s sit down and have a discussion in the River Market about what’s going on. About the fact that crime continues. About the fact that your business Fund to reimburse people for crime that’s committed against them does not stop crime. Let’s invite the media, let’s allow them to document the conversation and let’s leave politics at the door. Let’s work on real solutions, for real people, for real business owners that have something to lose. Let’s stop looking for actions that will play well on the front page of the star, and let’s start being honest about what we’re dealing with and how we fix it. I personally am getting tired of excuses at the top, of being placated and walking along pretending like the City’s actions are going to make a difference.

https://lnkd.in/gf2niEja "A key function of government is to keep its citizens safe. So #Victoria’s worsening youth crime crisis is like a millstone hanging around the #Allan government’s neck. It exposes a critical failure of the government despite major investments and a raft of policies to address the issue. A spate of high profile youth crimes in recent months has thrust the issue firmly into public focus. At the highest levels of government sources say there is growing frustration about the way in which our courts are dealing with the crisis. The latest data from the Crime Statistics Agency showed youth crime reaching a nine-year high. #Burglaries and #assaults loom large among the 20,401 offences committed by those in the 10-17 age group from June 2022 to June 2023. The figures included a #30% increase in the number of crimes against the person committed by 14 to 17-year-olds." Victorian Labor failing Victorians by every metric.

### Addressing the Double Standards: Crime Rates in London vs. Abuja, Nigeria The UK media often paints Nigeria as a lawless and dangerous country, but a closer look at crime statistics reveals a glaring double standard. While it's crucial to address crime in any nation, the persistent issues within the UK itself should not be ignored. Let's delve into the numbers. **Knife Crime in London**: In the 12 months leading up to December 2023, London recorded a staggering 14,577 knife crime offences. This marks a 20% increase from the previous year. The Metropolitan Police reported 112 homicides in 2023, with 72 involving a knife. The rise in knife crime incidents since the pandemic is alarming. **Homicides**: London experienced 103 homicides in 2023, with stabbings accounting for over 60% of these cases. Although the murder rate fluctuates, the capital city saw a peak of 153 homicides in 2019 and a lower count of 110 in 2023. Yet, the persistent issue of violent crime remains a critical concern. **Crime Rate**: The overall crime rate in the UK was 87.29 per 1,000 people in 2023-2024, with England having the highest rate at 89.16 per 1,000 people. London, in particular, has seen a significant rise in violent crimes, including knife-related incidents and homicides. ### Crime in Abuja, Nigeria While the UK media is quick to highlight the negative aspects of Nigeria, particularly Abuja, it's essential to provide a balanced perspective. Crime is a global issue, and every country faces its unique challenges. However, portraying Nigeria as exceptionally dangerous without acknowledging similar or worse issues at home is both unfair and misleading. Abuja, like any major city, has its share of crime, but it is not the lawless wilderness some media outlets depict. The Nigerian government and law enforcement agencies are actively working to combat crime and improve public safety. Moreover, sensationalizing crime in Nigeria while downplaying or ignoring the severe issues in London contributes to a skewed narrative that fosters stereotypes and biases. ### A Call for Balanced Reporting It's time for the UK media to adopt a more balanced approach when reporting on crime globally. Acknowledging the severe issues within their own borders should accompany any critique of other nations. Knife crime and homicides are significant problems in London, and addressing these issues should be a priority. Let’s foster a dialogue that focuses on solutions rather than sensationalism. Crime is a shared global challenge, and only through honest, balanced reporting and mutual cooperation can we hope to create safer communities worldwide.

Crime rates are being used to engender fear and promote certain presidential candidates that claim to be tough on crime. Even though the official measures do show lower crime statistics, it is very important to do some research and take look from different perspectives to find the truth. This article from the Undark magazine contains great information about crime statistics as well as some useful sources. It is very important to be informed and open minded. https://lnkd.in/dNjSf4sQ

"The clearest recent trend in national crime data — which Democrats have cited to rebut the Republican claims and which Republicans dismiss as misleading — is that violent crime is down. Jeff Asher, a crime analyst and co-founder of AH Datalytics, has studied national crime trends for years. In an interview with The Times, he said the Republican talking points about rising violent crime "would have been better in 2021 and 2022 than they are in 2023 and 2024."" "As for crime by immigrants, Cruz and others cited a handful of specific cases to bolster the claim that such incidents are common. Again, the data suggest a more nuanced picture. Ran Abramitzky, a Stanford University economics professor, helped lead a nationally representative study of incarceration rates for immigrants and U.S.-born citizens from 1870 to 2020. The study included all immigrants, not only those in the country illegally. It found, Abramitzky said in an email to The Times, that "as a group, immigrants have had lower incarceration rates than the US-born for 150 years." It also found that "relative to the US-born, immigrants' incarceration rates have declined since 1960," and "immigrants today are 60% less likely to be incarcerated" — and "30% less likely even relative to US-born whites." That was true for immigrants from all regions, he said. Abramitzky said he has also studied political rhetoric surrounding immigration, analyzing "200,000 congressional speeches and 5,000 presidential speeches since 1880." That research, he said, found that "attitudes towards immigrants in congressional speeches have overall improved over the last few decades, but they also become increasingly more polarized by political party. "Democrats are increasingly more positive and pointing to immigrants' contributions to the U.S.," Abramitzky continued, "and Republicans remain negative and increasingly focus on issues of crime and legality when they talk about immigrants."" https://lnkd.in/de9rvRxu?

📢 UNODC’s Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024 – A Critical Wake-Up Call As 2024 draws to a close, the UNODC's Global Report on Trafficking in Persons has raised serious alarms about the worsening global human trafficking crisis, with an overwhelming focus on its devastating impact on women, children, and marginalized communities across the world. 🔑 Key Insights from the Report: ➡️ 25% Global Increase in Detected Victims The number of human trafficking victims has surged beyond pre-pandemic levels, with an especially troubling statistic: children now make up 38% of all victims detected globally. This alarming rise highlights the growing vulnerability of children in trafficking schemes. ➡️ Trafficking for Forced Labour on the Rise In a troubling shift, forced labour has now overtaken sexual exploitation as the most prevalent form of trafficking globally. Despite this, convictions for forced labour remain disproportionately low, primarily due to the complexities involved in prosecuting these crimes. ➡️ Impact of Conflict and Climate Change The report underscores how global crises—particularly armed conflicts, displacement, and the devastating effects of climate change—are fueling trafficking networks, especially in Africa. The exploitation of children through forced labour and forced marriages has notably increased in these vulnerable regions. ➡️ Organized Crime Driving Trafficking The report highlights that organized criminal networks are responsible for 74% of trafficking cases, with these syndicates exploiting victims for forced criminality, online fraud, and large-scale transnational trafficking activities. This organized crime element makes tackling trafficking even more challenging. ➡️ Women and Girls Remain the Most Affected Women and girls continue to bear the brunt of trafficking, representing 61% of all detected victims. They are predominantly exploited for sexual abuse, forced labour, and forced marriages—forms of abuse that persist despite growing awareness. 💡 Why This Matters: The report calls for a global, coordinated response to human trafficking, emphasizing the importance of victim-centered justice systems, stronger cross-border cooperation, and targeted interventions to protect the most vulnerable. It underscores the urgent need for governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize these efforts. ❓ Call to Action: How can we, as compliance professionals, collaborate more effectively and innovate new solutions to combat this global issue? What strategies or tools could be implemented to strengthen our collective efforts against human trafficking? I encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas below. If you’re looking to expand your expertise in AML and financial crime prevention, consider my FinCrime Career Accelerator course to deepen your industry knowledge: https://lnkd.in/gNkmQ2N7

-From 2014 to 2022, the violent crime rate in Canada increased by 43.8 per cent to 434.1 violent crimes per 100,000 people. -The violent crime rate in the U.S. increased 5.3 per cent over the same period to 380.7 violent crimes per 100,000 people. -Likewise, the rate of population-adjusted property crimes (e.g., burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft) is also now higher in Canada than in the U.S., with 2491.0 crimes occurring per 100,000 people in Canada in 2022—a 7.0 per cent increase from 2014. -By contrast, the property crime rate in the U.S. declined by 24.1 per cent over the same period to 1954.4 crimes per 100,000 people. -Homicides are also on the rise in Canada with the number of murders increasing from 1.5 per 100,000 in 2014 to 2.3 in 2022—a 53.4 per cent increase. The homicide rate in the U.S. remains markedly higher than in Canada at 5.8 per 100,000 people in 2022 and increased 49.4 per cent from 2014 to 2022.