Studying illegal online trades in plants: market characteristics, organisational and behavioural aspects, and policing challenges
Studying illegal online trades in plants: market characteristics, organisational and behavioural aspects, and policing challenges
Illegal commerce in plants and their derivatives threatens and destroys numerous species and important natural resources, and may cause phytosanitary and health problems. This illegal trade, which has been boosted by the commercialisation of the internet, has been relatively overlooked in criminological research. Furthermore, the policing of illegal plant markets remains limited and poorly resourced, with law enforcement agencies lacking awareness and technical capacity in investigation and prosecution services. Based on semi-structured interviews with law enforcement officers and other relevant experts, this study, developed in the context of the ESRC-funded project “FloraGuard” offers an analysis of the characteristics of illegal online trading in plants and of the actors operating therein, of current policing practices, and identification of the main challenges to be addressed to better assist law enforcement. It concludes by offering practical recommendations to curb this illegal market.
Lavorgna, Anita
6e34317e-2dda-42b9-8244-14747695598c
Sajeva, Maurizio
31db3c7c-b7cd-41b5-9a73-59dd7fc28e51
Lavorgna, Anita
6e34317e-2dda-42b9-8244-14747695598c
Sajeva, Maurizio
31db3c7c-b7cd-41b5-9a73-59dd7fc28e51
Lavorgna, Anita and Sajeva, Maurizio
(2020)
Studying illegal online trades in plants: market characteristics, organisational and behavioural aspects, and policing challenges.
European Journal of Criminal Policy and Research.
(doi:10.1007/s10610-020-09447-2).
Abstract
Illegal commerce in plants and their derivatives threatens and destroys numerous species and important natural resources, and may cause phytosanitary and health problems. This illegal trade, which has been boosted by the commercialisation of the internet, has been relatively overlooked in criminological research. Furthermore, the policing of illegal plant markets remains limited and poorly resourced, with law enforcement agencies lacking awareness and technical capacity in investigation and prosecution services. Based on semi-structured interviews with law enforcement officers and other relevant experts, this study, developed in the context of the ESRC-funded project “FloraGuard” offers an analysis of the characteristics of illegal online trading in plants and of the actors operating therein, of current policing practices, and identification of the main challenges to be addressed to better assist law enforcement. It concludes by offering practical recommendations to curb this illegal market.
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Accepted/In Press date: 22 April 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 15 May 2020
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Local EPrints ID: 449952
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/449952
ISSN: 0928-1371
PURE UUID: efa94f88-da22-4dc1-b9d2-e403fc157864
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Date deposited: 29 Jun 2021 16:36
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 05:30
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Author:
Maurizio Sajeva
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