From the Moscow Times. Average bribe up to 23,000 roubles [$780] up from 9,000 roubles in 2008. Lots of good information in this piece.

Allegedly, Britons in France being investigated for money-laundering linked to cocaine deals. They apparenttly claim the cash was from transfer deals…There have been rumours for years, but no prosecutions have occurred yet. Could be dynamite or could be nothing. We will have to wait and see.

Well, dear old Ian Duncan Smith has asked Jonathan Aitken to produce a report on prisons, on the grounds that he has spent time in one. Perhaps he will be asking Bernie Madoff to run his fraud sub-committee. Nevertheless, he seems to have “got” drugs, rehabilitation and mental illness as the big three problems. sadly, … OUR PRISONS MUST BE FREED FROM THIS CYCLE OF FAILURE

Could be a sign of things to come across Europe this year. The Garda Siochana [Irish police] cant strike, but are angry about changes to their pay and conditions. Wonder what the effect will be? It will be watched wih interest on this side of the Irish Sea.

New report from the Poppy project.

very brief article that teases the reader. Sean O’Neill must be writing another book!

Another Times story [thank goodness someone is publishing stuff on crime], this time about a Far East based operation franchised out to the UK and elsewhere. More detail, please!

President of ACPO beginning to worry your blogger! If he’s calling for a proper review with independent members of an authoritative body, great. Its true weve needed one for a few years now. But he then goes on to oppose the Tories as well as the status quo and the Telegraph Report presents him as … POLICE CHIEF SAYS COUNTY-BASED POLICE FORCES MAY BE OBSOLETE

President of ACPO beginning to worry your blogger! If he’s calling for a proper review with independent members of an authoritative body, great. Its true weve needed one for a few years now. But he then goes on to oppose the Tories as well as the status quo and the Telegraph Report presents him as … POLICE CHIEF SAYS COUNTY-BASED POLICE FORCES MAY BE OBSOLETE

New chief, Aled Williams [didnt he sing the theme to the Snowman?]going through his confirmation hearing