This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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UK plans to tackle organised crime
09/02/2004
UK Government proposals for a single agency to tackle
organised crime have been welcomed by Justice Minister
Cathy Jamieson.
She pledged that the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency
and the Scottish Police Service would work closely
alongside the new agency in the fight against crime.
Proposals announced by the Home Office today would see
the National Criminal Intelligence Service, the National
Crime Squad, and elements of Customs and Excise and the
Immigration Service come together in a single
crime-fighting agency.
Ms Jamieson said:
"Criminals, especially well-organised gangs, do not
respect geographical boundaries. In fact, they respect
nothing that is good about our society. That means we need
effective public services that are on the side of
law-abiding people, stand up to organised criminals, and
bring them down whenever possible.
"The proposal for greater integration of the police and
other key services in England and Wales is one we welcome.
The Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency, whose new Director I
announced last Friday, already works closely with NCIS and
Customs investigations staff and is well-placed to work
with the new agency, which will include these.
"We have been fully consulted by the UK Government on
its review and consultation, and with ACPOS we will
continue to work on the detail of how new arrangements will
operate.
"Today's announcement sends out a clear message to
organised crime - you are not welcome in our communities.
Government, the police and other agencies stand together in
the fight against you. And every day we will strive to get
better at curbing your activities."
The Home Secretary is today issuing a consultation paper
containing proposals emerging from the UK Government's
review on moving to a single agency to tackle organised
crime. The key proposal could see the National Criminal
Intelligence Service, the National Crime Squad, and
elements of Customs and Excise and the Immigration Service
come together in a single crime-fighting agency.
The Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency is the equivalent,
in Scotland, of the National Crime Squad in England and
Wales. The creation of the new agency is intended to
preserve current arrangements under which the SDEA and
Scottish police forces operate in partnership with existing
UK agencies in Scotland.
The Executive will be working with the UK Government to
ensure that any new legislation takes full account of the
separate Scottish legal system, the responsibilities of the
Scottish Parliament in relation to crime, the role of the
Lord Advocate in prosecuting organised crime, and of the
other law enforcement bodies that work here.