Combined unit to deal with organised crime

Lawyers, police and forensic accountants part of new group directing investigations

News, 5 June 2006

A special combined unit of lawyers, detectives and financial experts has been set up by Crown Office to deal with serious and organised crime, according to a report in today's Herald.

The new unit will work beside the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) and the UK Serious and Organised Crime Agency to deal with money laundering, serious fraud, drug running and confiscating the profits of crime.

Comprises 30 specialists in various disciplines, the unit will be able to deploy legal personnel to major police inquires from the start of intelligence gathering and covert surveillance. This will provide the ability to tell police officers to follow a particular line of enquiry leading to evidence which can be relied on in court.

The Lord Advocate, Lord Boyd said that earlier involvement in criminal investigations would allow officers to focus on particular allegations and offences.The aim was to disrupt criminal networks by confiscating their assets.