Countering Terrorist Finance: A Training Handbook for Financial Services

Tim Parkman and Gill Peeling

Gower Publishing , 2007
ISBN 9780566087257

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Parkman and Peeling give a clear and thorough overview of the background and methods of terrorist financing and compare the context with that of criminal money laundering - a more widely understood risk in the financial services sector. They provide a persuasive case for well-informed monitoring of potential terrorist financing schemes and for keeping meticulous records to assist the authorities in investigating the financing where there has been a terrorist action.

The book is clearly written and informative, and includes a programme of interesting and stimulating training sessions, together with a CD of visual aids and handouts to suport the sessions, all of which would be helpful for the training manager. It would also be a useful addition to the library of any risk manager in financial services, including professional service firms, which are not directly addressed in the text. As terrorist groups become more sophisticated in their techniques for financing their operations, solicitors, accountants and surveyors, to name a few, will need to increase their vigilance to defend their reputations and, more importantly, the lives of the innocent.

The only quibble is that the book is likely to be out of date soon in one respect, in that the Asset Recovery Agency will be subsumed as of April 2008 into the Serious Organised Crime Agency. With this exception, the book is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Pauline Bird, Manager, Business Restructuring, BDO Stoy Hayward