Scotland's Serious Organised Crime Strategy 2016 annual report

Foreword

I am delighted to introduce this annual report which highlights some of the progress we have made towards achieving our strategic vision of 'a safer, fairer and more prosperous country free from the harm caused by serious organised crime'.

Since the launch of 'Scotland's Serious Organised Crime Strategy' in June 2015, a significant level of activity, across a huge range of partners, has been carried out to reduce the harm caused by serious organised crime to Scottish communities.

The report comes amidst a 42-year low in recorded crime across Scotland, however, we must not be complacent and continue to recognise that serious organised crime can, and does, have a disproportionate impact on our most disadvantaged communities.

Serious organised crime affects us all and we all have a part to play in reducing the harm it causes. I am grateful to the many organisations across the public, private and third sectors who have contributed to the work of the Taskforce since the launch of the refreshed strategy.

The Scottish Crime Campus continues to play a significant role in the collaborative, multi-agency approach Scotland uses to tackle serious organised crime. We now have a range of organisations contributing to, and receiving benefit from, the Campus with over 17 organisations now officially embedded there including SEPA, Trading Standards Scotland and the Security Industry Authority.

I look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts as we strive to eradicate serious organised crime from Scotland.

Michael Matheson MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Justice
November 2016