It’s the criminal economy, stupid

For over 20 years a handful of criminal investigators and prosecutors have known the truth, politicians have suspected it and the recession is starting to reveal it, writes Tristram Hicks. The truth is that the pursuit of money is the root of all evil. This biblical reference (Timothy, since you ask), suggests that the truth has been about for some time, but recent statistics suggest that the pursuit of money may also be an effective treatment for some, if not all, evil. The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) is starting to reap substantial rewards and, at the same time the crime rate, specifically the one that applies to property crime, is at its lowest level for thirty years. Could the two be connected?

Tristram Hicks is a Superintendent at the International Academy Bramshill, exporting British Police AML expertise to overseas jurisdictions. The views of the author are his own and should not be taken as the policy of the Metropolitan Police Service or the National Policing Improvement Agency.

Crime is traditionally tackled by the criminal justice system, but, unfortunately, as Graph 1 shows, most offending is never looked at, never mind adequately addressed. Instead attrition in the justice system ensures that individuals rarely face the consequences of stealing, drug dealing and other forms of property crime.