Introduction
Crime is part of society. We find criminal activity in the form of illegal acts and attacks on the legal assets of individuals and organizations. Harmony, fairness and trust in the observance of moral guidelines as well as law and regulations remain previously unattainable desires and goals in all ages, social systems and locations. The state is being challenged hard, sometimes beyond the capabilities of decision-makers and institutions.
Organised, often cross-border crime is particularly serious. Business practices, violence, intimidation, manipulation combined with the best financial and technical resources give power and strength to this phenomenon. Terrorism is partly financed through organised trade in stolen art, perhaps also through alliances with the OC. The immigration of foreign cultures with simultaneously solidified and isolated lifestyles, acting below the threshold of attention as well as clan crime creates additional challenges.
The preservation of the democratic system, the observation of security-relevant processes and prevention with a focus on crime, cyber security, international terrorism, OC and proliferation define tasks and duties for security agencies.
It is not only the opinion of DITS experts that the effectiveness and efficiency in prosecuting known crime phenomena are inadequate. Sustained nationwide and intensive prosecution is not guaranteed. Initiatives in leadership and policy for structural improvement are often limited to incidents with high attention value and are not sustainable. The law is no longer consistently applied, law-free areas are created - the legal system and, as a result, its acceptance are questioned.
Objectives
DITS is highly engaged in the following topics.
(1) Criminal police units and security organs suffer from inadequate personnel and material resources, some of which are outdated.
DITS is committed to promoting the research and development of innovations with interdisciplinary working groups and on its own initiative. The focus is on various technologies, technical solutions in hardware and software and comprehensive information processing.
(2) Federal structures and insufficient cooperation lead to a highly fragmented data structure and prevent appropriate information processing.
DITS is particularly committed to creating suitable solutions in information processing and information fusion. The latest technologies, including for processing unstructured data in a multilingual environment, are taken into account and used.
(3) It is essential to clarify and uncover the causes, connections, motives, methods and goals of crime. A realistic situation description requires in particular independent and interdisciplinary research. The use of economically oriented consulting firms under the umbrella of agreed framework purchase agreements is not a solution.
Comments and impressions from the population, from relevant experts as well as from opposition political representatives open a broad spectrum of questions. Information as well as findings on covert crime and threats, in addition to official reports, provide information on realistic situations. A critical and active debate is necessary.
It is not unusual for politically motivated and sovereign analyses and observations to be different from those obtained and published in independent national and international forums. Citizens no longer understand the discrepancy between published and perceived security. Research creates knowledge and results. The dissemination of these contributions in the public and also in the expert committees is a necessary element in the social discussion, the derivation of demands and their consideration in the individual formation of opinion and political decision-making.
DITS members are committed to their work and are nationally and internationally acknowledged. Their work and efforts include the promotion of scientific work and the regular preparation of contributions to relevant forums, discussions in the media and attendance at national and international conferences. The preservation of independence from dedicated interests, objectivity, professionalism and transparency is a paradigm in all phases of the work.
DITS encourages contact and constructive intellectual debate with political representatives and security agencies. Competence and experience are offered within the framework of the non-profit association.
DITS does not pursue economic interests and is looking for critical discussion. The goals are open discussion and the questioning of presumably realistic paradigms. The communication of findings, indications of threats, suitable reactions and long-term and future-oriented strategic concepts are an essential part of the relevant initiatives.
| Title | CrimSec – Crime and Security |
| Short description | Crime, also in organized form, together with attacks on the basic democratic order as well as terrorism threaten our society and legal order. Critical analysis, research, technology and innovation help to promote and maintain security at a high level. |
Links and downloads
DITS Projekte [pdf]
DITS Projects [pdf]- CrimSec Informationsblatt [pdf]
- CrimSec Information flyer [pdf]
- Loise Shelley: Dirty Entanglements, Corruption, Crime and Terrorism, Cambridge University press
- Sieber/Vogel: Terrorismusfinanzierung, MPI für ausländisches und internationales Strafrecht
- Arndt Sinn: Organisierte Kriminalität 3.0, Springer Verlag