Serious Organised Crime Taskforce Strategy Updated

23rd February 2022

A strategy to combat serious organised crime has been strengthened following a number of notable successes that have greatly benefitted Scotland's communities and businesses.

The updated Serious Organised Crime Taskforce Strategy will see better collaboration across all sectors with an emphasis on identifying the key threats and ensures Scotland's response to those threats remain effective and continue to reduce the harm that organised crime causes communities.

Organised crime is a serious threat and Scottish society pays for it every day, either directly as victims or indirectly by paying for services such as the police, prosecution and health that are required to respond to it.

Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency actively work with agencies in Scotland, the UK and internationally to tackle organised crime and to dismantle the groups responsible. This activity has delivered significant successes in recent times, particularly through the UK-wide Operation Venetic, and Scottish Operation Barricade which has seen the removal of firearms and significant quantities of illegal drugs from our streets alongside a number of arrests.

Cabinet Secretary for Justice Keith Brown said:"I want to see a Scotland where we all work together to reduce the harm caused by organised crime. Harm reduction will benefit our communities, businesses and every one of us.

"Serious Organised Crime Taskforce members continue to work with other organisations at home and abroad to tackle these threats. Our multi-partnership approach has delivered notable successes, but there is more to be done.

"This updated strategy puts the emphasis firmly on identifying the key threats and putting our response to those threats at the heart of our efforts. We will have the greatest chance of success if everyone in Scotland plays their part in continuing to disrupt serious organised crime groups to reduce the harm they cause to our communities."

What can you do?
For some organisations, addressing serious organised crime is a clear part of their remit. These include Police Scotland, COPFS, HMRC, the National Crime Agency, the Scottish Prison Service, the Civil Recovery Unit and parts of the third sector and the Scottish Government, but there is a lot that we can all do:

Individuals - You can protect yourselves from cyber threats (with anti-virus software on phones, tablets and PCs, strong passwords etc), report concerns, help vulnerable relatives, friends or neighbours to be safe from scams or other forms of exploitation, avoid buying counterfeit goods or other products of serious organised crime.

Communities - can support people at risk of becoming involved in serious organised crime, work with law enforcement agencies, local authorities and regulators to discourage and deter the selling of the products of serious organised crime, promote positive alternatives to serious organised crime in terms of employment, businesses, products and values. While there are many underlying causes of problems within our communities, tackling these problems successfully will require a range of community interventions including individual willingness to take action through whistleblowing campaigns, Crimestoppers and other initiatives such as See Something, Say Something.

Businesses – You can protect yourselves from cyber threats, vet your staff, report concerns, keep informed about current threats, put plans and processes in place to protect against fraud, corruption, money laundering etc.

Businesses involved in banking and financial services can train staff to recognise signs of money-laundering and fraudulent activity, report suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies, support your customers in protecting themselves.

Local authorities and other public bodies – You can protect yourselves from cyber threats, vet your staff, use the local authority serious organised crime self-assessment checklist, put in place robust procurement processes to protect against corruption, use your regulatory and licensing powers to disrupt and deter serious organised crime groups, share information and intelligence with law enforcement agencies, listen to your communities and strengthen community participation, work through schools to educate children and young people about drugs and counterfeit goods, work together to support young people on the cusp of serious organised crime into education, employment or training.

Elected representatives (Councillors, MSPs and MPs) – You can work with your officials to put in place and apply robust procurement and licensing processes, make reducing the harm caused by serious organised crime a priority, use your links with local communities to contribute to detecting, disrupting and deterring serious organised crime.

Third sector organisations – You can contribute to diverting people from serious organised crime and its products and promoting positive alternatives, protect yourselves from cyber threats and fraud, contribute to stronger, more resilient communities.

Human trafficking victims have been identified across all local authorities in Scotland.

This issue is not just confined to specific areas – it is happening in communities across the country. We all have a part to play in keeping an eye out for possible victims. You can find out more on the Scottish Government human trafficking website or in our factsheet Spotting the signs of HT

See more at
https://www.gov.scot/publications/serious-organised-crime-strategy/