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Serious Organised Crime Taskforce
22/10/2007
The first meeting of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce took place in Edinburgh today.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill was in the chair to signal the Government's determination to pursue serious organised crime in all its forms by bringing together all the agencies involved in tackling organised criminal gangs.
This group included the Lord Advocate, Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the Scottish Prison Service amongst others.
During the meeting, a protocol was signed between ACPOS and the SPS on sharing intelligence. This will mean that police intelligence officers will work with SPS intelligence officers in each prison in Scotland and an SPS officer will be seconded to the SCDEA.
The meeting also heard from the Security Industry Authority on how the new licensing regime which comes into force on November 1 will help drive organised criminals out of the private security industry.
Mr MacAskill said:
"Tackling serious organised crime is a priority for this Government. We are committed to supporting the police and other law enforcement agencies in responding to the threat to our communities posed by criminal gangs.
"Organised crime is a cancer on our society - undermining hardworking families and businesses. Its tentacles stretch from drug dealing and other illegal activities to using legitimate businesses as fronts for money laundering.
"This Taskforce will be a major weapon in the fight against these gangsters by bringing together all the major agencies involved in tackling serious organised crime.
"Better co-ordination and sharing of best practice will help these bodies work together to put these criminal networks out of business.
"The new licensing regulations on the security industry are a tangible example of the work going on on many levels to clamp down on criminals who try to use legitimate businesses as a front for their illegal activities. For too long criminal elements have used this industry as a cover for their unscrupulous operations.
"From next month, organised criminals who infiltrate the security industry, and use it as a means of money laundering and as cover for other illegitimate activities will no longer be able to operate with impunity.
"The intelligence sharing protocol between the police and the prison service is another example of how successful co-operation between law enforcement and partner agencies can help tackle organised crime.
"Scotland's Mr Bigs and their followers should be under no illusion. This Government will pursue them with vigour and working with the other members of the Taskforce we will put them out of business and off our streets."
Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini said:
"Tackling serious and organised crime is a clear priority for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. We have a dedicated division dealing solely with serious and organised crime and have a close working relationship with law enforcement agencies, particularly the SCDEA. This approach has resulted in significant convictions in the High Court, such as that of operation Folklore which resulted in the conviction of five males on a number of very serious drugs and money laundering offences.
"The creation of this taskforce will help us build upon this work, ensuring that we continue to develop our ability to detect and prosecute serious and organised crime, and mitigate its harmful effects."
Fife Chief Constable Peter Wilson, chairman of the Crime Business Area of the ACPOS, said:
"We welcome the Cabinet Secretary's initiative in setting up a taskforce of the key partner agencies involved in the battle against serious organised crime as it affects Scotland.
"While there has been excellent inter-agency working over a long period of time in tackling such crime and the criminals involved in it this taskforce will offer all of us an excellent opportunity to share ideas and good practice and present a united effort.
"In addition we will have an opportunity to check the effectiveness of our collaborative work with the help of the Cabinet Secretary and his colleagues.
"The eight Scottish police forces, along with the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, are committed to detecting and deterring serious organised criminal networks which may try to establish a base or operate in Scotland.
"We are also pleased that a protocol on the sharing of information and intelligence is being signed by ACPOS and the Scottish Prison Service. Both organisations have a major role to play in the prevention and detection of serious crime and the criminal networks."
Assistant Chief Constable Gordon Meldrum, Deputy Director General of the SCDEA, said:
"The creation of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce will complement existing collaborative work between the SCDEA, Scottish Police Service and other law enforcement partners. However, it also provides the opportunity for new, innovative and creative thinking to help us reduce the threat from, and harm caused, by Serious Organised Crime Groups, to Scotland's communities.
"The Taskforce has a real opportunity to make a difference by continuing to make it difficult for organised crime groups to function effectively in this country. The aspirational aim must be to make Serious Organised Crime socially unacceptable."