Combating International Crime The Longer Arm of the Law

Citation

Clarke, C.M. (2009), "Combating International Crime The Longer Arm of the Law", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 32 No. 2, pp. 404-407. https://doi.org/10.1108/13639510910958262

There are a number of journal articles and books on terrorism written in the past and present century ranging from historical and political viewpoints that influence our perceptions of terrorism. Following 9/11 a proliferation of literature emerged specifically addressing terrorism and terrorist policy. While there are numerous references to the history of terrorism and more recent political thought, there are fewer that speak directly to law enforcement practitioners. (Carlson, 1995; Clarke, 2007; Combs, 2000; Cutterbuck, 1992; Emerson, 1998; Glynn, 2005; Harmon, 2000; Kushner, 1998 McCulloch, 2002; Ochberg and Soskis, 1982; Raul and Tyler, 2001; Riley and Hoffman, 1995; Schneiderman and Cossman, 2001; Scraton, 2002; Thomas, 2002; Turk, 2002; White, 2006). What appears to be missing is a comprehensive link between the organizations at an international level to those at the street level. Steven David Brown, the editor of, Combating International Crime fills this void with a text specifically written for the purpose of exploring international law from a practitioner's viewpoint.

The purpose of this book is to provide an overview of what is currently in place on a global scale for law enforcement practitioners. What Steven Brown offers is a glimpse at the service providers, policies and procedures, as well as practitioners. These experiences include the benefits and pitfalls of law enforcement at the international level. Steven David Brown, as editor and contributing author, introduces the book by pointing to necessary, yet difficult, decisions and adjustments needed by governments to police uniformly and comprehensively. Accomplished “top players” in the field of international investigation author subsequent chapters. These experts present valuable observations and advice from their experience for readers to discern. Focusing on the themes emerging from the experts, Brown ends the book with a precise of generalized recommendations for the future.

Each of the contributing authors has extensive first hand experience relevant to the international policing scene. The authors range from: a former senior manager of Interpol to upper level investigators from New Scotland Yard and Metropolitan Police in London, Essex Police in the UK, a colonel in the Moldovan National Police and representatives of the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative, a member of the European Anti‐Fraud Office to upper level managers in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, n.d.) and a senior UK Civil Service employee and head of the Forensic Science Pathology Unit, intelligence analysts with the National Criminal Intelligence Service, an expert on organized crime with the General Secretariat of the EU Council of Ministers, a Public Prosecutor in Croatia, and a Canadian Judge ad litem to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

The editor organizes the chapters in a way that guides the reader with a straightforward explanation of international politics, law and culture based on capacity that may be easily understood by academics, students and field practitioners. Building a broad understanding of the international setting sets the groundwork for the subsequent chapters. The editor divides the text into five sections, first drawing the reader from a basic understanding of the complexities involving investigations on a global scale to the cooperation required between organizations. A third section deals with the mechanics of communication, presenting the difficulties in basic human interfacing. The fourth section highlights major tools and techniques used during investigations. The fifth section is a case study of an investigation that utilizes the information presented in the previous four sections of the book. The final segment of the text consists of appendices and examples of working documents of International co‐operation networks to examples of a letter of request briefing, and other legal instruments. As well, there is a glossary of acronyms and major international legal instruments complete with websites. Lastly, the editor includes an extensive list of references for future reading.

The book offers options of interest from a police perspective in terms of what systems are available, whether the information exists, and whether there is a question of trust when information changes hands. What is noteworthy is the way the text deviates from the more generic responses offered in many books. Generally vague information is provided on police duties, investigations and terrorism. (Carlson, 2005; Simonsen and Spindlove, 2007; White, 2006). Discussion often centers on the dependency on police activity at the street level and simply recommends information be brought forward to the recommended federal level. An example is the FBI official web site. This book gives a more multifarious explanation including networking and the collaboration and accommodation of liaison officers from member states.

The information is valuable as a reference or teaching aid to practitioners as well as academics. The duties of an overseas liaison officer are outlined complete with expectations for liaising with international organizations. The book presents a coherent overview of the political ramifications as well as the challenges and prospects facing national law enforcement. The edition is complete with a section measuring the costs of services offered as well as explaining the difficulties from a legal and management perspective.

There is an emphasis on negotiating proactive working relationships and a professional approach to handling information. Cameron‐Waller Vlogaert and Pesta et al. call for the modernization of Interpol, and strong international cooperation in working relationships. Aggressive preventative measures, cooperation from international organizations and the mechanics of communication are major tools and techniques used to combat international terrorism.

In this book Steven Brown and contributing authors Kevin O'Connell, former Deputy Director of Europol et al., stress the importance of understanding different cultures for successful investigations and working relationships. The emphasis goes beyond learning a language; strengthening the argument for the importance of teaching and promoting diversity in curriculum. For international investigations the value of knowing different cultures must be clearly understood if there is to be a workable relationship between sovereign states as well as between continents.

Investigators understand the need for persistence, a necessary quality for any investigator, but particularly where the pace and exchange of information is slow and often inefficient. The information in Combating International Crime explains the need for careful inquiry and the importance of knowing different cultures. These lessons are solidified in the example used in the case study.

The authors make connections between various levels of government while simultaneously introducing the reader to the complexity of treaties and agreements. The organization and context offers the reader a candid perspective of police operations from the ground level that is clearly comprehensible.

Steven David Brown presents a complete picture with an array of perspectives in the field of international crime investigations. The information challenges practitioners to broaden their thinking while investigating crime at the local level and strive for innovative working relationships at the national and international levels. Although broad in scope, and definitely applicable to policing anywhere in the world, American readers may feel alienated by the lack of American content where European cases are cited as examples. Overall, this is a minor criticism when one evaluates the overall usefulness of this book.