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Transnational Crime - LAW00084H

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  • Department: The York Law School
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

This module will explore various transnational crimes (e.g. cyber crime, financial crime, modern slavery, terrorism and drug production/trafficking) from a multi-disciplinary perspective. It will also look at some of the ways (legal/non-legal) to effectively address and prevent these crimes.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

1) understand the nature and extent of some of the major crimes from a multi-disciplinary perspective,

2) understand the root causes, the nature of illegal markets and the modus operandi of criminals and criminal groups,

3) identify and critically analyse the key legal frameworks to address transnational crimes,

4) identify and critically analyse the major law enforcement and other responses to transnational crimes, and

5) explore some of the effective ways to address transnational crimes

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

1) gain systematic understanding of the nature and extent of transnational crime from a multi-disciplinary perspective

2) Explain, discuss and critically evaluate legal and non-legal responses various forms of transnational crime from a multi-disciplinary perspective

3) Apply critical understanding to develop individual opinions and arguments

4) Apply established techniques of independent research on transnational crime topics, including the use of relevant legal/non-legal database

5) Persuasively and coherently communicate information, ideas, issues and arguments to specific audiences

Module content

Weel 1: Concepts/Definitions of Organised, Transnational and International Crimes

Week 2: The Causes of Organised Crime, Illegal Markets and Modus Operandi

Week 3: Law Enforcement Framework

Week 4: Cyber Crime

Week 5: Financial Crime

Week 6: Reading Week

Week 7: Modern Slavery

Week 8: Terrorism

Week 9: Illicit Cycle of Narcotics I (Drug Production/Trafficking)

Week 10: Illicit Cycle of Narcotics II (Consumption)

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

Other

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

1) Students are allowed to submit a detailed essay plan so that tutors can provide comments as to the structure and basic arguments.

2) Students will receive detailed feedback after essays are marked.

Indicative reading

1) Boister, N, An Introduction to Transnational Criminal Law, 2nd ed. (OUP 2018)

2) Fijnaut, C, and L Paoli (eds.), Organised Crime in Europe: Concepts, Patterns and Control Policies in the European Union and Beyond (Dordrecht: Springer)(2006)

3) National Crime Agency, National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2021, available from https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/533-national-strategic-assessment-of-serious-and-organised-crime-2021/file

4) HM Government, Serious and Organised Crime Strategy (2018).


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.