Italian criminals look to the East: Mountain police prepare for winter at international conference
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.ITALIAN crime groups are poised to exert worldwide influence through agreements with emerging Russian, Eurasian and Asian criminal organisations, a senior FBI official warned British police officers yesterday.
James Frier, a deputy assistant director of the FBI, said individual law enforcement bodies were unable to offer protection against international organised crime and had to establish improved working relationships with their colleagues in other countries.
Speaking at the International Police Exhibition and Conference in London, Mr Frier said international co-operation was needed immediately because of the global ambitions of organised crime and the opportunities created by the collapse of communism. In Europe, the abolition of border controls provided 'unparalleled opportunities' for organised crime to expand.
He said: 'As this decade ends, we will see the Italian organised crime groups expand their overall international influence and power through agreements with the stronger Russian and Eurasian criminal organisations, as well as the Asian criminal groups, the South American cartels and the Cosa Nostra.
'The organisations will undoubtedly be more multi-nationally based, with greater diversification into legitimate international business activities and with the increased capacity to thwart the best efforts of any one or two national law enforcement organisations.'
The best solution to reduce assaults on officers was improved training rather than issuing United States-style side-handled batons, the conference was told.
Alan Dyer, Chief Constable of Bedfordshire and chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers' self-defence sub-committee, said a survey of constables in his force, conducted at the height of the debate over their use, had found that many were uneasy about being issued with the batons, despite the strong calls by some sections of the service.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments