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Social network analysis as a tool for criminal intelligence: understanding its potential from the perspectives of intelligence analysts

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Abstract

Over the past two decades an increasing number of researchers have applied social network analysis (SNA) to various ‘dark’ networks. This research suggests that SNA is capable of revealing significant insights into the dynamics of dark networks, particularly the identification of critical nodes, which can then be targeted by law enforcement and security agencies for disruption. However, there has so far been very little research into whether and how law enforcement agencies can actually leverage SNA in an operational environment and in particular the challenges agencies face when attempting to apply various network analysis techniques to criminal networks. This paper goes some way towards addressing these issues by drawing on qualitative interviews with criminal intelligence analysts from two Australian state law enforcement agencies. The primary contribution of this paper is to call attention to the organisational characteristics of law enforcement agencies which, we argue, can influence the capacity of criminal intelligence analysts to successfully apply SNA as much as the often citied ‘characteristics of criminal networks’.

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Notes

  1. Some analytical tools like Analyst Notebook have over time been updated to include third generation mathematical computations making the distinction between second and third generation tools ‘somewhat fuzzy’ (Wiil 2013, p. 8).

  2. Call charge records is data that is recorded by telecommunication equipment about communication transactions, such as phone calls, text messages (SMS), and image and video messaging (MMS). In Australia, such data can be requested from telecommunication providers with a warrant.

  3. Optus is an Australian telecommunications provider. The phone number mentioned here is the number people call to hear their voice messages.

  4. Intelligence Product Proposals are used by Victoria Police. New South Wales Police have a similar system called Intelligence Collection Plans.

  5. The organisations involved are aware of a number of these challenges. For example, Victoria Police’s Blue Paper (2014), a strategic outline for the organisation over the coming decade, outlines a number of current deficiencies with their IT systems.

  6. AUSTRAC (Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre) is an Australian Government department tasked with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing which includes its own specialist financial intelligence unit.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to sincerely thank Victoria Police and New South Wales Police Force for their involvement, and in particular, the analysts that gave up their time to be involved with this study. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their critical input on an earlier version of this article.

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  1. School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

    Morgan Burcher & Chad Whelan

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  1. Morgan Burcher
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  2. Chad Whelan
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Correspondence to Morgan Burcher.

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This study was not funded.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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The authors – Morgan Burcher and Chad Whelan – declare that have no conflict of interest.

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Burcher, M., Whelan, C. Social network analysis as a tool for criminal intelligence: understanding its potential from the perspectives of intelligence analysts. Trends Organ Crim 21, 278–294 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-017-9313-8

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