Criminal networks: A network analysis of co-offending and co-communication : - A quantitative case study

Abstract: The thesis was aimed to investigate the structure of a criminal network and how the EncroChat-communication- and co-offending-structure differs. To study this, a network analytical method was applied that resulted in four networks: co-offending according to the verdict, co-offending according to the prosecution, Encrochat-communication and a network where these three networks were merged. The results showed that the cooffending networks obtained a more compact composition than the EncroChatcommunication network. All networks had a dense core containing the most central actors, although some exceptions existed in the co-offending networks. The results of the network analysis indicated that the actors who committed the most crimes also communicated the most. The results also showed a partly different composition of other prominent actors in the network analysis than what the prosecutor presented. Therefore, network analysis can be used as an extra dimension in law enforcement work due to its function in identifying structures.