Policing Transnational Organized Crime and Corruption ― Exploring the Role of Communication Interception Technology

Technology has advanced in such a manner that the world can now communicate in means previously never thought possible. These new technologies have not been overlooked by transnational organised crime groups and networks of corruption, and have been exploited for criminal success. This text explores the use of communication interception technology (CIT), such as phone taps or email interception, and its potential to cause serious disruption to these criminal enterprises.

Exploring the placement of communication interception technology within differing policing frameworks, and how they integrate in a practical manner, the authors demonstrate that CIT is best placed within a proactive, intelligence-led policing framework. They also indicate that if law enforcement agencies in Western countries are serious about fighting transnational organised crime and combating corruption, there is a need to re-evaluate the constraints of interception technology, and the sceptical culture that surrounds intelligence in policing.

Policing Transnational Organised Crime and Corruption will appeal to scholars of Law, Criminal Justice and Police Science as well as intelligence analysts and police and security intelligence professionals.

Mitchell Congram is an Honour's Graduate of the Queensland University of Technology's School of Justice, Australia.

Peter Bell is a Senior Lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology's Faculty of Law, Australia. He has held senior analytical and operational positions with the Queensland Police Service, Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence, Australian Federal Police and Organised Crime Agency of British Columbia-Canada.

Mark Lauchs is a Senior Lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology's Faculty of Law, Australia. He has previously worked for the Queensland State Government in policy and project roles associated with accountability and the justice system.