Sub-text seems to be reluctance to set up an office of European Public Prosecutor. Powers for Eurojust, the institution that enables judicial, investigative and prosecutorial cooperation, are under discussion. European Commission wants one set of things, some member states a different set. Usual controversies. They have to ratify the Lisbon Treaty first, anyway.
Berlusconi’s back [and the Northern League]! Italians are blaming crime on the Roma, Romanian gypsies. So Schengen may be suspended by Italy. Watch this space.
Seven countries have signed a pact and set up a research and training centre for “cyber defence”.
Role of an NGO in fighting organised crime. Addiopizzo fighting the protection racket by asking tourists to boycott those places that pay “pizzo” to the Mafia. Bit of a restaurant guide, but there’s a good excuse.
Death of a drugs baron, six months ago. “only now can the story be told…” [why?] Lurid hints of connections with the IRA, a paramilitary gang called the Cleaners and the Cali cartel. Plus a sort of history of cocaine dealing in Liverpool. Sounds like someone is writing a book. The story is from the … COLOMBIAN “HIT” THAT SET OFF A UK COCAINE WAR
In the interests of fairness and academic objectivity, I went to the SOCA Website: [http://www.soca.gov.uk/index.html]. I must have missed the offending Times article. Mea Culpa! Will follow up! Bill Hughes letter here is of interest, obviously.
We call them investment bankers over here….I love the way his family defend his right to do it, too!
Sounds like joined-up government to me! Now if we had regional assemblies across England, they would probably be the right size to do something similar successfully. Don’t hold your breath!
Update on Protestant Paramilitaries and their arsenals, with some idiotic comments, even by the Guardian’s lunatic fringe’s normal standards.
The issue appears to be overtime. There is a ruined statue somewhere in London. The face is disfigured, but around the base there is a crudely-carved inscription. “You wont beat the Met CID.” An old friend, who rose to the giddy heights of Chief Constable once observed that the problem with mergers is that the … ORGANISED CRIME AGENCY CHIEFS ROUND ON OWN STAFF
