Organised Crime in Australia - Thesis Example

Australia, just like many other nations of the world, continues to face organized crime as an impending problem. It is against this backdrop that this particular paper will evaluate various key issues related to organized crime in Australia.

How Organized Crime Evolved

            Organized crime is a terminology that was initially adopted in the 1920s to refer to crime groups that were functioning in the United States more specifically in the state of Chicago. Although organized crime can be perceived as an urban or modern phenomenon, it is also believed to have its roots in ancient and rural crime settings when bandits used to attack roads and trade routes and then distracting businesses, and raising costs. In the context of Australia, the 2002 Act propagated by the Australian crime commission infers organized crime as crimes that comprise two or more offenders. Furthermore, the crimes are characterized by a substantial amount of organization and planning and the utilization of sophisticated tactics undertaking criminal activities.

            Organized crime in Australia can also be traced back to the early years of the 1970s when the expansion of such criminal activities emerged as a significant political issue which was further a critical area under discussion by the Royal Commission. Concerns by the government increased essentially during the 1970s and also the early years of 1980.  A central area of concern was the escalating trade of illegal drugs. The growing attention on organized crime happened simultaneously with the emergence of new criminal activities which arose in some of the Australian small capital cities.  As time went by, well-established criminal networks, began to emerge in the dominant cities of Melbourne and Sydney. Organized crime has existed since the last century into the 21st century.

            Furthermore, with the emergence of increased globalization, organized crime in Australia began to expand. The 1990s, after the cold war, was a significant period in the changes of economic and national boundaries which were signified by the creation of global systems of communication and finance.  These expansions made it adequate for organized criminal groups to advance their activities internationally. Not only were new criminal markets developed but also new criminal organizations also emerged in various parts of the world Australia being included.

How much-organized crime is evident in Australia

            According to the Australian Crime Commission, (2011, p8), organized crime in Australia can be described as alarming. In 2008 December, the Australian government unveiled its first national security statement that revealed that organized crime in Australia is a serious national security issue. The report emphasized the fact that organized crime is a phenomenon of growing concern that the government is working hard to combat.

The Australia Crime and Safety Report (2012) also recently revealed that organized crime is a highly prolific issue that covers a large percentage of the criminal incidences that occur in the country. For instance, currently, various organized criminal groups threaten the security of the country. These include Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCG) such as Comancheros International outlaw clubs, Hells Angels, Lone Wolfs, Rebels, and Bandidos. Furthermore, other foreign criminal groups do operate in Australia.

How Australia is Affected by Organized Crime

Australia has greatly been affected by organized in the sense that its effects are far beyond those imposed by other types of offenses.