ABSTRACT
Unpacking the term 'organised crime' is not for the faint hearted, as commentators refer to it as one of the most contested concepts in criminology (Levi, 2012). Whilst Woodiwiss (2001:3) describes it simply as 'systematic criminal activity for money or power', other academics and policymakers tease out numerous variables, which have generated approximately 180 separate definitions (von Lampe, 2017). During 2005, whilst a Detective Chief Superintendent in the Lancashire Constabulary, the author witnessed a milestone in the way the UK started to tackle organised crime (OC). Her Majesties Inspector of Constabulary published a thematic review, 'Closing the Gap', which outlined the capacity and capability of police forces in England and Wales to deal with organised crime. Within the Organised Crime Group Mapping (OCGM) process, offenders are separated into 'principal', 'significant' and 'peripheral' categories.
