Organized crime
READING
Organized crime in the UK
Organized crime is characterized by a few basic qualities including durability over time, hierarchical structure, capital accumulation, reinvestment, access to political protection and the use of violence to protect interests. Organized crime can be divided into main categories: theft and fraud, providing illegal services and goods, business and labor racketeering and money laundering. Many organized crime operations have legitimate businesses (usually licensed gambling or building construction) which provide cover for drug trafficking, money laundering, prostitution, extortion or fraud. Criminals corrupt respected members of society through bribery and blackmail. Judicial and police officers, legislators are especially targeted for control by organized crime via bribes, threats, or a combination.
Organized crime is one of the biggest challenges faced by the UK. Some people are harmed directly. But it affects everyone, and everyone pays – whether through higher prices in the shops to cover the cost of fraud or through their tax bill, because Government has to invest in enforcing the law or is itself defrauded. It is not easy to determine the harm that it causes. The economic and social costs of organized crime are estimated to be at least £20-40 billion a year. That is more than £300 for every person in the country. So called “dirty money” or assets derived from crime represents around 2 per cent of the UK’s gross national product, and about half of them are derived from illegal drug transactions.
Organized crime covers a very wide range of activity and individuals involved in a number of crime sectors. It is strongly linked to immigration crime, fraud, money laundering, internet-related crime, other threats – including armed robbery, kidnap and extortion, vehicle crime, cultural property crime and counterfeit currency.
There are around 400 major crime bosses in the UK with the criminal wealth of approximately £440 million.
Home Office reports that the social and economic harm caused by drug trafficking (Class A drugs: heroin, cocaine and synthetics) is about £13 billion a year. Every £1 spent on heroin is estimated to generate about £4 of economic and social cost. Drug users cause around half of all crime.
Organized immigration crime covers both the organized facilitation of immigrants to the UK (“people smuggling”) and the trafficking of people for criminal exploitation: as prostitutes or forced labour (“human trafficking”). Global profits from people smuggling are estimated to be $10 billion annually.
Fraud involves the obtaining of other people’s money or assets by deception. A lot of fraud is committed directly against the Government – against the tax and the benefits systems. Fraud is also committed against individuals and companies, in a wide variety of ways, and often by organized gangs. The main examples of such frauds include fraud against banks, often involving false or stolen identities; investment and advance fee frauds; and forms of Internet fraud. Much fraud goes unreported and usually generates money that can be used for future crimes. In 2006 there was created the Serious Organized Crime Agency. To fight organized crime more effectively the agency got the power to seize the profits of criminal activities and direct a certain part of them into law enforcement.
10x2=20
Task 1. Define the statements to be true (T) or false (F).
- Organized crime mainly affects companies and government, and individuals are not harmed directly.
- Government covers the cost of fraud through high prices in the shops and through their tax bill.
- The economic and social costs of harm that organized crime causes are estimated to be more than £300 for every person.
- About 50 per cent of so called “dirty money” are derived from illegal drug transactions.
- The criminal wealth of major criminal bosses in the UK is about £400 million.
- About a quarter of all crimes in the UK is caused by drug users.
- The constituents of organized immigration crime are people smuggling and human trafficking.
- The examples of criminal exploitation are the use of forced labour and prostitution.
- A small amount of crimes that are related to fraud goes unreported.
- The Serious Organized Crime Agency has the power to direct the seized money into law enforcement.
10x2=20
Task 2. Match the English and Ukrainian equivalents.
1. illegal weapon turnover |
a) сфери впливу |
2. embezzlement |
b) ухилення від сплати податків |
3. spheres of influence |
c) підпал життєво важливих приміщень |
4. armed squads |
d) розкрадання, розтрата |
5. tax evasion |
e) незаконний обіг зброї |
6. arson in vital facilities |
f) озброєні групи |
7. illicit goods and services |
g) величезні прибутки |
8. trade in human beings |
h) торгівля людьми |
9. enormous profits |
i) надання позик під дуже великі відсотки |
10. loansharking |
j) незаконні товари та послуги |
Task 3. Match the words which go together.
1. illegal transit of |
10x2=20 |
2. gambling |
b) crime |
3. aircraft |
c) laundering |
4. white-collar |
d) drugs |
5. money |
e) hijacking |
6. shadow |
f) law and order |
7. hostage |
g) taking |
8. forces of |
h) credit cards |
9. destructive |
i) economy |
10.counterfeiting of |
j) phenomenon |
10x2=20
1. Organized crime is characterised by … |
a) typically by people in positions of authority. |
2. White-collar crime is offences committed… |
b) the shadow economy and corruption. |
3. Organized crime includes such terrorist acts as… |
c) causing panic and fear and influence on the state organs. |
4. Organized crime has penetrated into … |
d) spheres of influence and integrate into foreign Mafia. |
5. The terrorist actions are committed with the aim of… |
e) is becoming more serious in Ukraine. |
6. Organized crime in Ukraine is fighting to delimit … |
f) the structures of official economy. |
7. The problem of smuggling and drug trafficking … |
g) the use of specific ways of combating them by militia. |
8. Gambling business is the best way of … |
h) are obtained annually by organized crime. |
9. The perfection and clandestine nature of the criminal structures require … |
i) blowing up and arson, aircraft hijacking, hostage taking and murder of politicians. |
10. Hundreds of millions in gambling, prostitution … |
j) washing illegally acquired capital. |
20
WRITING
Task 5. Finish the sentences.
- Organized crime is…
- The main aim of organized criminal activity is …
- The forms of organized crime are…
- The activity of organized criminal groups is characterised by…
- The most widespread crimes connected with organized crime in Ukraine are…
- It’s difficult to prevent and disclose organized crime in our country because…
