Author puts in his article the proposal how to prepare a comprehensive criminal strategic analysis report on weapon related criminality. He starts with the justification and objectives of arm crime analysis, explaining the European Union driven perspective resulting from the definition of weapon tracing. The content and methodology of possible criminal strategic analysis on arms crime are presented in paragraphs and sections what shall allow the analysts to follow the pattern suggested in the article. The complexity of the data to be gathered, cross-checked, analysed is significant, but the only purpose behind was the comprehensiveness of the future analytical reports. The analyses produced on the basis of the material, could be taken up on the district/city level as well as from the regional, state or international perspective. The proposed content and methodology for drafting the arms related crime should be adjusted to particular needs and tailored for the target group to whom, the conclusions will be addressed. One of the most important factors, stressed by the author, is that the analysis/report should always contain the conclusions and recommendations part, that shall allow improving the actions of the respective state agencies and law enforcement bodies or amending legislation. The article convinces also that using the information coming from tracing of weapons, allows not only tracing particular unit of weapons or ammunition, detecting the perpetrator and dissolving certain crime case, but also contributes to drafting the comprehensive criminal strategic analysis of the phenomena.
The article focuses on the countermeasures that could be taken by international community and countries in order to tackle with the problem of illicit weapons trafficking and manufacturing. One of the most efficient tools in the field of preventing and combating the above phenomena is implementing the tracing of weapons. Tracing means systematic tracking the history of firearms and in certain cases also its parts and ammunition; checking the background of the weapon and its users in order to perceive the moment of shifting the weapon from legal into illegal market and detect the perpetrators operating in this shady business. Tracing concept is deeply rooted both in European Union and United Nations legal heritage and derives respectively from the so called EU Firearms Directives as well as UN Vienna Firearms Protocol and UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. Tracing is based on three linked pillars: marking of weapons and ammunition, exchange of information and record – keeping understood as registering all weapons and keeping track of production, import, sale, transfer from government stockpiles, deactivation, destruction. The exchange of information can be executed both domestically and internationally, including the intermediation with international institutions such as Interpol. Article also explains in detail the characteristics of weapon tracing instruments or manuals worked out both by European Union and United Nations, their inter-dependence and main differences as well as reasons behind applied approaches of both stakeholders.
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.