Serious Organised Crime Taskforce: progress report 2023

Looking forward

This progress report gives a flavour of the work that is undertaken by the Serious Organised Crime

Taskforce, its subgroups and partners to reduce the harm caused by serious organised crime in Scotland.

Law enforcement partners located at the Scottish Crime Campus produce the Scottish Multi Agency Strategic Threat Assessment (SMASTA), which is a key reference document that allows the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce to identify priorities, and direct its collective resources more effectively. Serious organised crime groups are constantly evolving, looking to identify opportunities to increase their wealth with no regard to anyone who may be affected. It is essential that the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and partners look to use every means at their disposal to anticipate and respond appropriately and effectively to the harm serious organised crime poses.

Following publication of the refreshed Serious Organised Crime Strategy, a Steering Group was formed comprising of a number of partners representing the four Strands of the Strategy to analyse available data and make recommendations to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce. One of the priorities of the Steering Group over the next year is to work with Taskforce members and other partners to develop a consistent approach to information sharing between law enforcement agencies and the third sector, and ensure that our most vulnerable are not at risk of exploitation.

I would encourage everyone and all organisations across the country to work with us to continue to make Scotland a hostile environment for those who commit serious offences for their own gain, and ensure we achieve our aims of making Scotland a safer, fairer and more prosperous place for everyone.

Angela Constance MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs

Chair, Serious Organised Crime Taskforce