The Organised Crime and Policing research group is at the forefront of tackling some of today's most complex threats – and anticipating those of tomorrow. Based in the UK with a global outlook, we drive innovative research to understand, disrupt and prevent organised crime in all its forms.
From drug trafficking and people smuggling to organised environmental crime, our work bridges the gaps between evidence, policy and practice – shining a light on hidden criminal networks and the systems that enable them.
We have grown an international community of experts, committed to working across sectors – via RUSI’s Strategic Hub for Organised Crime Research (SHOC). Our unique ability to engage policymakers, practitioners, academics and private-sector representatives allows us to generate actionable insights and shape smarter responses to today’s globalised criminal markets.
Our goal is simple: to turn insight into impact and help build safer, more resilient societies in the UK and around the world.
In recent years, we have led the way in pioneering new approaches to understanding and tackling organised crime:
- We were among the first to recognise the power of follow-the-money approaches to disrupt environmental crime, helping to establish this as a Financial Action Task Force priority.Â
 - We have led cutting-edge research into the use of financial sanctions to disrupt criminal networks, strengthening the evidence base for smarter, more coordinated interventions.
 - We produced the first global analysis of how climate change stands to reshape large-scale illegal fishing, helping policymakers anticipate and respond to emerging trends.
 - Our groundbreaking research on the organised criminal dynamics behind the UK’s booming vehicle theft market has offered new insights to guide policing and industry responses.
Across all our work, the focus is clear: generating evidence that actively informs policy, strengthens practice and drives real-world change.
Programmes
View the research programmes and projects by the Organised Crime and Policing team.
Environmental Crime and Climate Security Programme
RUSI’s environmental crime and climate security programme examines the nexus between emerging environmental challenges and national and international security, against the backdrop of a warming world.
Organised Crime and Corruption Programme
Our work on organised crime and corruption explores the dynamics of illicit markets and the drivers and enablers that sustain them in order to inform effective policy responses.
Policing Programme
Our work focuses on enhancing police effectiveness in response to new and complex security threats and social challenges, and measures to improve police accountability. We also specialise in the more specific opportunities and difficulties facing policing in developing countries.
Networks
Latest publications
Access our latest publications and filter by topic, region and by project.
Loading results...
Multimedia
View event recordings, video, podcasts and interactive project summaries
Conference session recordings
Videos & Podcasts
Interactive project summaries
This interactive summary draws on extensive fieldwork conducted from 2022–24 in two case study countries: Mozambique and Nigeria giving voice to some of the main themes and perspectives raised, in the words of research participants themselves.
Our team
Cathy Haenlein
Director of Organised Crime and Policing Studies
Organised Crime and Policing
Anne-Marie Weeden
Senior Research Fellow | SHOC Network Member - Researcher
Organised Crime and Policing
Mark Williams
Programme Manager | SHOC Network Member - Researcher
Organised Crime and Policing
Elijah Glantz
Research Fellow
Organised Crime and Policing
Jennifer Scotland
Research Analyst
Organised Crime and Policing
Alastair Greig
Research Analyst
Organised Crime and Policing
Fellows
Distinguished Fellows
Michael Fuller QPM BA MBA LLM Hon LLD
Distinguished Fellow
Sir David Green CB KC
RUSI Distinguished Fellow, CFS
The Lord Hogan-Howe QPM
Distinguished Fellow
Sir Mark Rowley
Distinguished Fellow
Sir Rob Wainwright KCMG
RUSI Distinguished Fellow, Cyber and Tech
Senior Associates
Professsor Felia Allum
RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, OCP | SHOC Network Member - Researcher
Chris Batt
RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Neil Bennett
RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Nick Clarke
RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Samuel Coates
RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Professor Alison Wakefield
RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Associates
Julien Bastrup-Birk
RUSI Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Dr Alexander Chance
RUSI Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Charlotte Davies
RUSI Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Giles Herdale
RUSI Associate Fellow, OCP | SHOC Network Member - Practitioner
Dr Andi Hoxhaj OBE
RUSI Associate Fellow, OCP | SHOC Network Member - Researcher
Matt Ince
RUSI Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Dr Sasha Jesperson
RUSI Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Genevieve Kotarska
RUSI Associate Fellow, OCP | SHOC Network Member - Researcher
Alexandria Reid
RUSI Associate Fellow, OCP | SHOC Network Member - Researcher
Shane Roberts
RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, OCP; SHOC Network Member - Practitioner
Dr Georgina Sinclair
RUSI Associate Fellow, OCP | SHOC Network Member - Researcher
Dr Alex Sutherland
RUSI Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Martin Verrier
RUSI Associate Fellow, OCP | SHOC Network Member - Practitioner / Researcher
Dr Timothy Wittig
RUSI Associate Fellow, Organised Crime and Policing
Criminologist Associates
Xolisile Khanyile
RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, CFS
Professor Michael Levi
RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, CFS | SHOC Network Member - Researcher
Simon York CBE
RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, CFS
Dr Katie Benson
RUSI Associate Fellow, CFS | SHOC Network Member - Researcher
