SOC ACE research cited in major parliamentary report on economic crime

A new joint party report, Clean foundations for growth: Unlocking economic opportunity by tackling economic crime, published by the UK Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Fair Banking, Anti‑Corruption and Responsible Tax, and the UK Anti‑Corruption Coalition, draws on SOC ACE research.

The report cites Matthew Redhead’s (RUSI) paper Old Wine, New Bottles: the Challenge of State Threats in discussing the challenges created by the nexus of serious organised crime and hostile state actions. Citing Matthew’s work directly it says, “Hostile states are also using these actors and the same financial tools used by criminals to threaten democracy in the west and subvert economic growth.” (pg. 12 ).

It also cites and Kathryn Westmore’s (RUSI) paper on Chinese money laundering organisations, “…play a key role in facilitating transnational crime, including the lucrative global trade in drugs such as fentanyl.” (pg.12) .

The report reflects the growing policy interest in the links between illicit finance and state threats.