When:

12th June 2007, 12:15PM

Where:

Demos

Organised crime is big business. Criminal networks extend beyond national borders and employ increasingly sophisticated techniques. Activities range over a vast area, from drugs and organised immigration crime, through evasion of VAT and excise duties, financial and business fraud to intellectual property theft or counterfeiting. Much of the harm done by these activities remains hidden from the public eye. As a result, the scale of the threat is still not widely recognised by society.

This is a growing concern as criminal networks become more fluid and flexible, while the increased availability of information technology continues to facilitate various crimes and spawn new forms of criminal.

This seminar will seek to answer the following questions:

• What is the nature and scale of the threat posed by organised crime and what threats can be expected in the future?
• Are the current partnerships between governments, national and international organisations adequate in tackling the broad spectrum of threats? 
• How can national agencies and the Police tackle serious and organised crime at the local level?
• How can information be better shared with strategic partners?
• What are the skills required by the pubic and private sectors to meet the challenges posed by organised crime?
  

The seminar will hear from five leading thinkers and practitioners.

Sophie Barrow is a Senior Manager in the International Directorate, Serious Organised Crime Agency.
Detective Chief Inspector Stan Gilmour is Head of Field Intelligence at Thames Valley Police 
Tim Grant is an Assistant Director at Interpol. He is responsible for the development and implementation of organisational protocols and strategic planning/policy.
Professor Dick Hobbs is Professor of Sociology with special reference to Criminology at the London School of Economics.
Ian McCredie is a former British diplomat and is Vice President Corporate Affairs Security, Shell.