Reforming the UK police

"Centre-right" think tank Reform has a number of recommendations for reforming the UK police. Just found it as Match of the Day starts. Will try to return to some of the recommendations tomorrow, because they need to be discussed.

Arms dealer jailed for 30 years

Monzer al Kasser found guilty of conspiring to sell arms to FARC...but actually, it was a sting! The US has been after him for quite a while.

Report urges European Finance watchdog

Not wholly about organised crime, but relevant to a lot of phenomena that are linked. The victims of white collar carelessness are legion...When does causing the majority of the public to lose money become a criminal act? Another one of those finals questions...

US holds 750 in drug cartel raids

Targeting the Sinaloa cartel from Mexico. But the figure includes many arrested earlier.

Former Belgo executive Tim Power convicted of insider dealing

odd little article. Bloke supposed to have benefited found not guilty...how does all that add up then?

Exclusive: Army is fighting British jihadists in Afghanistan

Exclusive? There's an earlier post on this blog from 21st Feb from the Telegraph reporting identical information that was supposed to have been given to Miliband on his recent visit. Not a lot of new stuff in this piece, but the comments are particularly bizarre.

China fears tremors as jobs vanish from coast

This doesnt just describe the seed bed for political protest. it describes the conditions in which organised crime flourishes. Merton, where are you? Presumably, identical things are happening in India, just as they are in Eastern Europe and Mexico.

Crime went global years ago, even before licit business. Jihadism went global more recently. Are the far left and right following suit? How would we tell? By the fact that Ministries of the Interior and cops are getting jumpy?

Relative deprivation or absolute deprivation. Which curve are we on?

French School Trip Targeted by deadly Cairo bomb

The Times spin on the attack brings out the stark stupidity of it all. A bunch of French schoolkids doing last minute shopping. Le Monde's more measured response here: http://tinyurl.com/ahb42g

Britain facing a Summer of rage - police

Supt Hartshorn, apparently head of the Met public order unit predicts a heady brew of middle class rebels, activists, far left, far right and environmentalists. od little piece. Wonder if it was the Guardian's idea or his? But if the police go in hard, they certainly will have trouble. Wonderful act of idiocy recently, cancelling a football match in Liverpool in order to have more resources to police a BNP demo. How to win friends and influence people...

Kidnap on Britains streets

Unpleasant little stories of kidnap and torture. The majority involving drug addicts and petty criminals, but a problem that the BBC believes is on the increase. I would like to hear the police comment.