Toine Spapens

Bio: Toine Spapens is an academic researcher from Tilburg University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Organised crime & Psychology. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 17 publications receiving 160 citations.

Macro networks, collectives, and business processes : An integrated approach to organized crime

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Match-fixing: The Current Discussion in Europe and the Case of The Netherlands

Abstract: Match-fixing is a topic that captures the imagination of the public and increasingly attracts academic interest as well. Manipulation of sports games can be sports related, to achieve a better result for the team or a player, or gambling related to gain financially from the outcome. This paper describes the results of an empirical study of match-fixing in The Netherlands and analyses the main risk factors involved. These are social relations of persons involved in sports with criminals; the availability of the game for betting; financial difficulties of clubs, players and others who can influence the out¬come of a match, and gambling addiction. Currently, match-fixing is high on the agenda of sports associations, gambling operators and government institutions on both the national and international levels. The ‘Convention on the manipulation of sports competitions’ drawn up by the Council of Europe encompasses a broad range of measures and can be viewed as the leading international initiative to curb match-fixing. Finally, we argue that the importance of sports in society requires more thor¬ough and comparative empirical research of the scope and nature of the problem, on non-gambling related match-fixing, and on the relationship between sports-betting and manipulation.

Intergenerational transmission and organised crime. A study of seven families in the south of the Netherlands

Abstract: Kinship ties play an important role in organised crime, but little attention has been paid as yet to criminal families and intergenerational transmission of delinquent behaviour as well as criminal ‘leadership.’ This paper presents the results of an in-depth study of seven families in the south of the Netherlands that produced a leader of a criminal group in at least one generation. In almost every generation, most male and female members of these families have criminal records, but intergenerational transmission of criminal leadership has so far occurred in only two families. There is a range of risk factors that promote criminal behaviour across generations, but an important explanation is that family members select their partners and friends from their own closed and deviant subcultures, and seem to favour those who have already developed criminal track records. Apart from risk factors at the individual, family and social environment levels, criminal behaviour was also stimulated by the seven families quickly taking advantage of emerging crime markets, particularly ecstasy production and indoor cannabis cultivation from the 1990s onwards.

The Dutch Drug Policy from a Regulatory Perspective

Abstract: Starting in the 1970s, the Netherlands developed a regulatory regime for narcotic drugs by distinguishing between hashish and marihuana (“soft drugs”) and other drugs (“hard drugs”). The authorities decided to cease prosecuting the possession of consumer quantities of the former type and to allow the sale of soft drugs at “coffee shops”. However, they did little to control the activities of coffee shop operators, whereas the supply of soft drugs to the shops remained illegal. In this paper, we review the ongoing debate on the soft drug policy in the Netherlands and analyze it from the perspective of the regulation of illegal markets.

Trafficking in Illicit Firearms for Criminal Purposes within the European Union

Abstract: • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim.

The Relative Ineffectiveness of Criminal Network Disruption

Abstract: Researchers, policymakers and law enforcement agencies across the globe struggle to find effective strategies to control criminal networks. The effectiveness of disruption strategies is known to depend on both network topology and network resilience. However, as these criminal networks operate in secrecy, data-driven knowledge concerning the effectiveness of different criminal network disruption strategies is very limited. By combining computational modeling and social network analysis with unique criminal network intelligence data from the Dutch Police, we discovered, in contrast to common belief, that criminal networks might even become ‘stronger’, after targeted attacks. On the other hand increased efficiency within criminal networks decreases its internal security, thus offering opportunities for law enforcement agencies to target these networks more deliberately. Our results emphasize the importance of criminal network interventions at an early stage, before the network gets a chance to (re-)organize to maximum resilience. In the end disruption strategies force criminal networks to become more exposed, which causes successful network disruption to become a long-term effort.

What Sustains Wildlife Crime? Rhino Horn Trading and the Resilience of Criminal Networks

Abstract: For the last several thousand years, humans have regarded other sentient and non-sentient species as resources and tradable commodities, a perspective that has often had negative impacts on biodive...

The Delinquent Way of Life

Abstract: clinician avoid the unavoidable stress and conflict engendered by the many compelling ethical dilemmas in the areas of child abuse and neglect, in outdated bureaucracies, in the care of the severely handicapped child? In 15 chapters the book performs a tour de force, covering most of the pressing issues in the field. There are vignettes of actual cases and, at the end of each chapter, lists of questions suitable for hours of discussion along with abundant references. There are a number of outstanding contributions which cover the ethics of behavior control , the dilemma of standardized tests, the rights and rites of professionalism, opportunities, and responsibilities. As the American Academy of Child Psychiatry is presently in the process of formulating its own code of ethics, teachers and clinicians will welcome this volume and use it frequently and gratefully.

Organizations and Cyber crime: An Analysis of the Nature of Groups engaged in Cyber Crime

Abstract: This paper explores the nature of groups engaged in cybercrime. It briefly outlines the definition and scope of cybercrime, theoretical and empirical challenges in addressing what is known about cyber offenders, and the likely role of organized crime groups. The paper gives examples of known cases that illustrate individual and group behaviour, and motivations of typical offenders, including state actors. Different types of cybercrime and different forms of criminal organisation are described drawing on the typology suggested by McGuire (2012). It is apparent that a wide variety of organisational structures are involved in cybercrime. Enterprise or profit-oriented activities, and especially cybercrime committed by state actors, appear to require leadership, structure, and specialisation. By contrast, protest activity tends to be less organized, with weak (if any) chain of command.

From illegal markets to legitimate businesses: the portfolio of organised crime in Europe. Final Report of Project OCP-Organised Crime Portfolio

Abstract: With the financial support of the Prevention of and Fight against Crime Programme European Commission-Directorate-General Home Affairs.