Receiving of stolen property and money laundering: A comparative study.

Crime in the form of receiving of stolen property and money laundering is an extensive social problem both nationally and internationally. This has resulted in several international organisations, including the United Nations, European Union, Council of E urope and OECD, implementing initiatives to limit and prevent this type of crime. Some of the tools are judicial, such as directives, conventions and recommendations, while others are "soft law" instruments. In Norway, there are essentially two sets of r egulations to prevent and limit receiving of stolen property and money laundering. Firstly, receiving of stolen property and money laundering is criminalised in the General Civil Penal Code and in some special legislation dealing with criminal law. Second ly, rules designed to uncover money laundering are in place. These rules impose an obligation on a host of private entities, such as banks, insurance companies, brokers and lawyers, to investigate and report transactions they suspect are associated with t he proceeds of crime. The purpose of this project is to carry out an analysis and policy consideration assessment of these regulations. An important objective is to bring to light to what extent and how the international judicial instruments influence No rwegian legislation. Comparative studies of the equivalent regulations in Sweden, Denmark and Germany will be implemented in order to gain ideas and suggestions about alternative ways of formulating the regulations. The project is put forward in agreement with the Norwegian Bar Association, the Norwegian Savings Banks Association and the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime in Norway.