A feature of the modern organisation is the existence of temporary systems—task forces, project groups and other teams established for a specific purpose and disbanded when the…
Abstract
A feature of the modern organisation is the existence of temporary systems—task forces, project groups and other teams established for a specific purpose and disbanded when the purpose is accomplished. Such groups provide particular problems for management and in this and two subsequent articles, the authors describe some of the problems and how they were tackled in the Civil Engineering industry
To report the highlights of the 2007 American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington, DC.
Abstract
Purpose
To report the highlights of the 2007 American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington, DC.
Design/methodology/approach
Provides a brief review of the conference program on technology issues in libraries.
Findings
This summary of library program with presentations and information. The presentations focus is on new technologies and their applications in a variety of library environments. The program offered a wide variety of timely presentations that were on new and emerging technologies and the application to the library environment.
Originality/value
Provides descriptions of programs and presentation of interest to library and information professionals.
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Analyses how money made from entrepreneurial crime is disbursed through Canada’s legitimate economy; this is one of the first quantitative studies of money laundering using a…
Abstract
Analyses how money made from entrepreneurial crime is disbursed through Canada’s legitimate economy; this is one of the first quantitative studies of money laundering using a survey of police cases, and the exclusive source of primary data was the Royal Canadian Mounted Police proceeds of crime files. Finds that drug trafficking is the largest single source of these proceeds, that banks and real estate are the main destinations of the revenues, and that methods used involved hiding their true ownership and source by using nominees and establishing legitimate companies, avoiding suspicion by using “smurfs”, and avoiding reporting requirements by structuring transactions. Describes the design of the research and gives a typology of money laundering operations.
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Examines how financial proceeds of entrepreneurial crime are disbursed throughout Canada’s legitimate economy, focusing on the use of criminally controlled companies as money…
Abstract
Examines how financial proceeds of entrepreneurial crime are disbursed throughout Canada’s legitimate economy, focusing on the use of criminally controlled companies as money laundering vehicles. Outlines the design of the research, including data sources, sampling method, data collection, and limitations of the data; the main source of primary data are the proceeds of crime cases taken from the files of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Discusses the findings: drug trafficking is the largest single source of criminal proceeds. Moves on to the criminal companies involved: these have a long history in North America, and while they exist for various reasons, money laundering is one of their main functions. Details a case study, that of Gary Hendin, an Ontario lawyer who laundered around CDN12 million in drug money during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Indicates the types of companies used and their methods for laundering money: nominees as owners or directors, a company hierarchy, fake loans or investments, selling a company, buying a company already owned by a criminal enterprise, fictitious business expenses and false invoices, fictitious salaries, and offering shares in a public company.
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Abstract
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Stephen H. Schneider and Kristin Kuntz-Duriseti
One of the principal tools in analyzing climate change control policies is integrated assessment modeling. While indispensable for asking logical “what if” questions, such as the…
Abstract
One of the principal tools in analyzing climate change control policies is integrated assessment modeling. While indispensable for asking logical “what if” questions, such as the cost-effectiveness of alternative policies or the economic efficiency of carbon taxes versus R&D subsidies, integrated assessment models (IAMs) can only produce “answers” that are as good as their underlying assumptions and structural fidelity to a very complex multi-component system. However, due to the complexity of the models, the assumptions underlying the models are often obscured. It is especially important to identify how IAMs treat uncertainty and the value-laden assumptions underlying the analysis.In particular, IAMs have difficulty adequately addressing the issue of uncertainty inherent to the study of climate change, its impacts, and appropriate policy responses. In this chapter, we discuss how uncertainty about climate damages influences the conclusions from IAMs and the policy implications. Specifically, estimating climate damages using information from extreme events, contemporary spatial climate analogs and subjective probability assessments, transients, “imaginable” surprises, adaptation, market distortions and technological change are given as examples of problematic areas that IA modelers need to explicitly address and make transparent of IAMs are to enlighten more than they conceal.
To explore how lawyers are used to launder the proceeds of criminal activity. Regulatory measures that compel legal professionals to report suspected money laundering, and the…
Abstract
Purpose
To explore how lawyers are used to launder the proceeds of criminal activity. Regulatory measures that compel legal professionals to report suspected money laundering, and the implications this has for solicitor‐client privilege, are also addressed.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from a sample of Royal Canadian Mounted Police proceeds of crime (POC) case files using a standardized questionnaire.
Findings
A statistical analysis reveals that lawyers came into contact with the POC in 49.7 percent of all RCMP cases examined. Lawyers are implicated in money laundering (both wittingly and unwittingly) primarily through their role as an intermediary in a commercial or financial transaction. In the majority of these cases, lawyers were facilitating a real property transaction by an individual engaged in drug trafficking. Lawyers were also used by offenders or their nominees to incorporate companies, purchase securities, and conduct bank transactions, including those pertaining to legal trust accounts.
Research limitations/implications
The analysis of money laundering is based exclusively on an analysis reliance of police cases. The RCMP database from which the sample was drawn was not as complete as originally thought.
Practical implications
Associations representing the legal profession have vehemently resisted mandatory reporting obligation, arguing that it abrogates solicitor‐client privilege. This paper supports the tacit consensus emerging internationally that mandatory reporting for legal professionals should apply only to the financial and commercial transactions mediated by lawyers on behalf of clients.
Originality/value
This research helps to inform the debate over the extent to governments should mandate lawyers to report transactions or clients that may be involved in money laundering.
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Stephen Schneider and Christine Hurst
This paper aims to explore some of the problems that arise in the execution of a joint force operation (JFO) involving various law enforcement agencies. Particular emphasis is…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore some of the problems that arise in the execution of a joint force operation (JFO) involving various law enforcement agencies. Particular emphasis is placed on examining factors that impede inter‐agency cooperation and coordination in the context of a JFO targeting serious and major crimes.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is informed by primary research that assessed the level of satisfaction of enforcement agencies involved in a Canadian‐based multi‐agency task force mandated to combat organized crime. Research for this study entailed a questionnaire survey of, and semi‐structured interviews with, operational and supervisory personnel assigned to the JFO, as well senior management within agencies participating in the JFO.
Findings
The research uncovered significant differences in the level of satisfaction with the execution of the JFO concept between members from the lead (federal) enforcement agency and those of other participating (municipal and provincial) agencies. The majority of survey participants overwhelmingly believe that the integrated, multi‐agency approach is an essential ingredient in the effectiveness of this JFO. However, among respondents from participating agencies there was a high rate of dissatisfaction with intelligence dissemination and sharing by the JFO, communication between the JFO and member agencies, and the contribution the JFO makes to the priorities and outputs of participating agencies in their own jurisdictions.
Practical implications
These problems strike at the very heart of a multi‐agency approach to major crimes enforcement and can be generalized to other jurisdictions and countries. Indeed, impediments to the timely sharing of criminal intelligence continue to constitute one of the most significant obstacles to inter‐agency cooperation and coordination, and, by extension, the optimal enforcement of organized crime and terrorism. The problems addressed in this study should be of concern to any manager of a multi‐agency task force, and similar research is recommended to unearth problems that may undermine inter‐agency cooperation and plague the effectiveness of a JFO.
Originality/value
Despite the increased prevalence and importance of multi‐agency operations in combating major and serious crimes, little research has been conducted into the issues and problems that obstruct inter‐agency cooperation within this context. This paper represents one attempt to fill this void.