This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Drug Enforcement Agency inspection report
24/07/2003
The Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency has established a strong reputation both within the UK and abroad since its inception in June 2000, according to HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Roy Cameron.
In his inspection report published today, Sir Roy said the SDEA's influence has also been evident in the development of intelligence-led policing in Scotland which is critical in addressing serious and organised crime.
Similarly, the growth of the SDEA to encompass the Scottish Money Laundering Unit, the Scottish Witness Liaison Unit and the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit in Scotland can only enhance its role.
HMIC acknowledges the Executive's commitment to expand the agency and advocates a wider role for the Agency in dealing with organised crime.
Sir Roy Cameron said:
"The threat posed by drugs to Scottish communities remains all too apparent and drugs trafficking remains the main challenge to law enforcement in dealing with organised crime.
"However, organised crime is global in its nature and its focus is constantly changing as profit-margins alter. It is a complex issue and one which requires a high level of sophistication on the part of law enforcement.
"The UK Government's commitment to address organised crime is enshrined in international agreements and it is important that Scotland plays its part in meeting these obligations.
"The agency was found to have contributed significantly to the co-ordinated response of Scottish policing to drugs trafficking and the wider issues of organised crime."
Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry said:
"The Scottish Executive takes very seriously the threat to Scottish society from drug crime and from other serious and organised crime. The SDEA has proven itself in the short time since it was established and the Executive has pledged to back it.
"In the past year we have seen a four-fold increase in the weight of Class A drug seizures and a 22 per cent increase in arrests as a result of SDEA activities.
"We are providing record funding to tackle drugs and deliver our multi-million pound drugs strategy which covers prevention, education, treatment and care, and balances enforcement measures with action to reduce demand.
"The SDEA, with a budget of over £320 million for 2003/04, is well on the way to reaching its target of 200 officers by March 2004.
"In addition to this, when the SDEA was launched in 2000, forces were funded for the initial recruitment of 100 additional police officers at force level to allow the redeployment of 100 experienced officers into drugs enforcement, drugs intelligence, and/or drugs education locally.
"This is an excellent report from the HMIC for the SDEA and for its Director. But there is further work to be done and I note, for example, the report's clear expectation that there should be a separate and distinct legal identity for the agency in the future. Along with the HMIC's other recommendations, it will be important to take this into account in planning for the agency's long term future."
Recommendations identified by HMIC which reinforce ongoing developments in the SDEA include:
- Reviewing the agency
- aims and objectives to reflect an overarching responsibility for responding to serious and organised crime
- That a clear strategy for the Scottish police service response to organised crime be developed giving full consideration to the role performed by the Home Office and the Scottish Executive and establishing clear linkages with the police response to organised crime in other parts of the UK
- That clear systems of public performance reporting for joint operations be developed in conjunction with a review of the agency performance management arrangements
The inspection was carried out during November and December 2002 by Sir Roy Cameron assisted by HM Lay Inspector, Mrs Jane Irvine and Assistant Inspector, Mr Kenneth McInnes.
It was the first Primary Inspection of the SDEA since its inception. A primary inspection of each police force and common police service is made every five years. A report is then published and placed on the HMIC website.
In the intervening years, two 18 month review inspections take place.