UK helps Moscow crime crackdown

The Moscow police force has turned to Scotland in its fight against organised crime, writes Sean Fleming.

In a #50,000 deal brokered by the Foreign Office, the Moscow police has bought a crime detection software package called Crimint developed by Scottish software house Memex.

The system is also being used by the Metropolitan Police, who will be working alongside the Russians to try and stem the flow of drugs and drug money out of the former Soviet Union.

Chris Lewis, Memex chief executive officer, said that western police forces have to act to counter the growing influence of Russian criminal gangs.

'The break-up of the Soviet Union has created what could be called a criminal free for all. Russian organised crime is showing signs of strength within Europe, North America and Israel,' he said.'

Crimint can be used by officers to sort through criminal records, photography and other evidence collected during an investigation.