There's an interesting piece in yesterday's Telegraph, reporting that we're close to an EU-wide common approach to help crack cross-border organised crime.

"The European Commission believes that a failure in one country to deal with organised criminals has an impact elsewhere, because international gangs simply look for the easiest place from which to operate.

"'They appear to be able to operate easily and effectively both within the European area and elsewhere in the world, responding to illegal demand by acquiring and supplying commodities and services ranging from drugs and arms to stolen vehicles and money laundering,' said the commission in its proposal sent to the Government.

"The proposed new offence would make it possible to target crime chiefs who have made themselves almost untouchable by hiding behind a network of legitimate businesses.

"This approach has been adopted in America for many years under the Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organisations law that has put several senior gangland figures behind bars.

"The Home Office estimates that about 1,000 organised criminal groups are operating in Britain, run by about 150 bosses backed by a group of around 750 lieutenants. Between them they control assets worth hundreds of millions of pounds."

Obviously, it would be next to useless for Britain alone to try to target cross-border organised crime - but, acting together with our EU neighbours, we can make a difference.