An innovative application of two different crime prevention perspectives to tackling the problem of maritime piracy. The author's unique background and experience in both academia and the military combine to address an old problem in a new way. As an unusual form of criminal activity, maritime piracy has not been subjected to analysis focused on its prevention over the long term. This book seeks to fill that void, focusing on Africa as a primary location, examining data on the methods and impacts of maritime piracy and sea robbery. How an unusual approach from the local to the international levels managed to overcome individual national deficits makes this an interesting read and case study.

Jay Albanese, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA

In a field where maritime piracy has attracted surprisingly little scholarly attention, this book provides a much-needed and genuinely substantive criminological perspective. Moving beyond the root-cause explanations that have long dominated debates on piracy, Figliomeni leverages years of practice and research to integrate criminological theory with military planning techniques, an innovative synthesis that yields a pragmatic framework for countering contemporary maritime piracy.

Bryan Peters, Leuven Institute of Criminology, Belgium

I have known Dr. Vincent Figliomeni since my first assignment at the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet Headquarters in Naples Italy since 2009. A quintessential professional, Vince was the Director of the Assessments Branch (N-9) for all operations and exercises undertaken by the Commander, Sixth Fleet. Dr. Figliomeni is a subject matter expert on piracy and this book is the magnum opus of his experience. It deals primarily with piracy in East Africa, but the lessons learned can be applied anywhere there is illegal activity at sea. Although the Somali pirates have been suppressed, piracy remains a problem in other high traffic areas in the world including the Gulf of Guinea. Dr. Figliomeni explains piracy, its root causes, and potential solutions. One of the problems discussed is not so much stopping the pirates at sea, but what you do with them upon interdiction and arrest. Currently the justice system in Africa is strained to support both trials and incarceration for perpetual violators. In many cases, it's catch and release. This is clearly a problem that must be addressed if we are to deter those who choose to put to sea and pirate defenseless commercial vessels. Read Maritime Piracy Reduction in Africa: An Assessment Using Criminological Theory and Military Science, you won't be disappointed.

Admiral James G. Foggo, USN (ret.), former Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa & Commander, Allied Joint Forces Command (NATO), Naples, Italy