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Drug-Related Homicide in Europe

Drug-related homicide (DRH) has the potential to act as a valuable indicator of wider drug-related crime. Yet DRH remains a knowledge gap within this broader field of study.

Author
Roel de Bont en Dr. Marieke Liem
Date
06 November 2017

Monitoring DRH is not only relevant to address the need for a broader understanding of the ramifications of the drug market, but also in light of the importance of the issue for policymakers. Yet, in the category of drug-related crime, the phenomenon of DRH appears to be an important gap in terms of available data and knowledge. Whereas homicide in general is internationally well recorded, this appears to be less the case for the particular phenomenon of drug-related homicide. Development of DRH data collection is therefore necessary in order to improve our understanding of the nature and consequences of wider drug-related crime. More specifically, there is a need to identify suitable national and international data sources and/or proxies to increase our ability to monitor this phenomenon.

Part 1: Research report

Illicit drugs continue to be a profitable area for criminal organizations operating within the EU. Drug use and drug markets can act as facilitators for all types of violence, which could ultimately lead to homicide. Yet, drug-related homicide (DRH) has not been monitored. The development of a drug-related homicide data collection is necessary to study this phenomenon. This report provides a first step towards a European-level DRH monitor.

Read the full report.

Part 2: A proposal for DRH monitoring

Following up on the findings of providing an overview of DRH data, this report outlines a proposal for long-term EU-level monitoring of DRH. The report recommends to explore the possibilities of including DHR variables into the already existing European Homicide Monitor framework. 

Read the full report.

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