ABSTRACT
The regionalization of markets and the creation of common economic spaces have generated new social spaces plagued by security problems that states do not necessarily have the capacity to address unilaterally (Hall and Bhatt 1999; Manning 2000; Sheptycki 2000). The unintended consequences of the development of common economic markets include several threats to security and prosperity in the face of transnational crime. Thus these new spaces require heightened control of movement of goods and people and the securing of border areas. This demand for security has provoked a need for greater collaboration between national police services and has led to a myriad cooperation treaties in police and justice matters (Hass 1972; Occhipinti 2003). Consequently, there has been a rise in ‘common security spaces’ in which police agencies are asked to share information and expertise (Manning 2000). Particularly, international police cooperation organizations have emerged and national police authorities have enjoyed opportunities for participation outside their jurisdictions through mutual legal assistance treaties (Benyon et al. 1993; Fijnaut 1993b; Nadelmann 1993).
