Introduction

Confronted with high numbers of goods, people and funds passing through their territories, modern states face the formidable challenge of managing flows and ensuring that they do not disrupt public order. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides insight into Australia’s attempts to formalise and entrench information-sharing between its security and intelligence agencies through the creation of fusion centres that co-locate analysts from various agencies. It explores how beneficial ownership transparency can contribute to the policing of illicit financial flows, an issue that has risen to the top of the European and US policy-makers due to both law enforcement considerations and a broader concern about the corrosive impact of ‘dark money’ on democratic societies. The book provides a well-rounded and stimulating overview of the challenges, trends and techniques in the policing of various flows that contemporary society find it necessary to control.