1. Serious and organised Crime

2. What is SAOC? involves more than one person, is organised, meaning that it involves control, planning and use of specialist resources, causes, or has the potential to cause, significant harm, involves benefit to the individual concerned, particularly financial gain.

3. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill “Serious organised crime hurts our country in terms of public safety, the economy, and jobs. We need a coordinated approach to ensure the whole country stands up against it – on the streets, within our communities, in civic society, and in the wider economy. (June 2009)

4. What Kinds of crime? Drugs Fraud Human Trafficking People smuggling Money laundering Identity crime Firearms Vehicle crime Intellectual property crime Counterfeit currency Kidnap and extortion

5. * Serious and Organised Crime Task force 2009 Extent of SAOC* in Scotland. Scotland has 367 organised groups Approx 4000 people involved The “top 20” groups are active in all police regions Over ½ of the groups are involved in multiple crime 9 out of 10 are involved in drug crime Over ½ have access to firearms 241 “specialists”, such as crooked lawyers and accountants, were linked to the organised crime groups.

6. Responses Responses in Scotland Setting up of SAOC Task Force – coordinates all agencies involved in crime. The 4 ‘Ds’: – DIVERT – individuals (particularly young people) from engaging in or using the products of serious organised crime. – DISRUPT – the activities of serious organised crime groups. – DETER– through measures to protect communities, businesses and the public sector from serious organised crime. – DETECT– by boosting capacity and improving co-ordination to give serious organised criminals no place to hide.

7. The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) Creates the Assets Recovery Agency, now the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) Introduces a new power of civil recovery to allow the government to recover – by a civil action in the high court – the proceeds of criminal activity. Introduces powers for the police and customs to seize cash they believe is crime related Enables courts to freeze a suspect's assets at the start of a criminal investigation. Allows the courts to make assumptions in non-drugs cases that all of a defendant's assets represent the proceeds of crime. Allows investigators to seek court orders requiring financial institutions and banks to identify all accounts of people under investigation

8. Links Serious and Organised Crime Agency Scottish Government – tackling serious and organised crime Scottish Government – tackling serious and organised crime