Malta Police Force collaborative investigations into organised crime : challenges & solutions

Abstract

This research aimed to examine the collaborative investigations conducted by the Malta Police Force (MPF) against organised crime (OC) locally, doing so by assessing the level of collaborative investigations and investigative challenges faced by the MPF in conducting collaborative investigations against OC and to provide the solutions for the challenges in collaboratively investigating OC locally. The research methodology was qualitative. Interviewing 10 participants from 5 different stakeholders. The primary data was analysed through thematic analysis from which three main themes emerged. The main themes were “It takes a Network to Defeat a Network”, “The Power of the Law” and “Resources”. With these themes providing a comprehensive understanding of interunit, interagency and international collaboration in OC investigations. Subsequently, identifying challenges alongside their solutions related to collaborative OC investigations. The main findings included that Malta is capable of conducting collaborative investigations against OC but which are inhibited by legal inadequacies, resources limitations, and social challenges such as ego, trust and competition. With their solutions including legal amendments, strategic resource management, soft skill training, adoption of operational security measures amongst other solutions. Recommendations are also provided for future academic research, including more in depth research regarding this research’s factors. With further research including supplementary quantitative research and comparative qualitative research. Moreover, a vast list of policy recommendations to address the identified challenges is provided. With such policy recommendations including the setting up of a national strategy, a national OC coordinator, legal amendments for Maltese legal procedures in investigatory and protectional aspects of OC cases, as well as investment in human and physical resources for all stakeholders. Overall, this research comprehensively examined collaborative investigations against OC locally. Establishing positive factors of local OC investigations but also the areas where they can be improved, by addressing the challenges of OC investigations experienced locally.