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11 Characteristics of organised crime

Organised crime has following important characteristics (Cf. Caldwell, 1956: 73-74):

1. Team work:

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It involves association of a group of criminals which is relatively permanent and may even last decades.

2. Hierarchical structure:

It has a structure with grades of authority from the lowest to the highest, involving a system of specifically defined relationships with mutual obligations and privileges.

3. Planning:

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It involves advance arrangements for successfully committing crimes, minimising risks and insuring safety and protection.

4. Centralised authority:

It functions on the basis of centralised control and authority which is vested either in the hands of one individual or a few members.

5. Reserved fund:

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It maintains a reserve fund from profits which serves as capital for criminal enterprises, seeking help of the police, lawyers and even politicians, and for providing security to the arrested members and their families.

6. Specialisation:

Some groups specialise in just one crime while some others may be simultaneously engaged in multiple crimes. Those groups which are engaged in multiple crimes are more powerful and influential.

7. Division of labour:

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Organised crime involves delegation of duties and responsibilities and specialisation of functions.

8. Violence:

It depends upon use of force and violence to commit crimes and to maintain internal discipline and restrain external competition.

9. Monopoly:

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It has expansive and monopolistic tendencies. Initially, organised criminal gangs operate in a limited area, and are engaged in a limited type of crime with a limited number of persons, but, gradually they expand into a wider range of activities extended over large geographical areas, involving a large number of carefully selected criminals.

In whatever area they operate, they secure monopoly in their criminal enterprises. They do not hesitate to use violence or threats of violence to eliminate competition.

10. Protective measures:

It arranges permanent protection against interference from law-enforcement authorities and other agencies of government. The protective measures include contacts with policemen, lawyers, doctors, politicians, judges, and influential persons in society.

Giving money in cash or in gifts, providing help in elections, threatening their competitors, and arranging their (influential persons) foreign trips are some of the methods used by these gangs to secure protection and avoid arrest and conviction.

11. Conduct norms:

It frames rules of conduct, policies of administration, and methods of operation for members and for the operation of crime. This helps in maintaining discipline, efficiency, loyalty, obedience, and mutual confidence. Penalties are imposed for violating rules.