Due to the advent of globalization and information technology, organised crime groups have extended their activities farther and deeper than in the previous decades, bringing their illicit trades to new levels. Like other countries throughout the globe, the United Kingdom experiences the adverse effects of organised crime. Various gangs of different nationalities operate in the UK, engaging in illegal profit-making activities—from trafficking drugs, persons, and contraband, to gambling, prostitution, and money laundering. Because of the far-reaching impact of these activities, serious organised crimes are among the top challenges and priorities of British law enforcement.
As a response to this threat, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) was formed. SOCA is part of a ‘new approach’ adopted by British authorities to deal with the growing seriousness of organised crime in the country. The new thinking evolved from the weaknesses of the old method of dealing with serious organised crime. Previously, the task was largely multi-departmental (among different government agencies) which had the possibility of miscommunications, ineffectiveness, and inefficiency. The new approach, on the other hand, combines the powers and privileges into a single high-profile government agency.
Formally established in April 2006, the Serious Organised Crime Agency is a law enforcement body which relies on intelligence gathering in order to monitor, prevent, respond, and minimize organised criminal activities and their effects. In its function and purpose, SOCA is the British equivalent of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Accordingly, its members are given the powers similar to those customs and immigrations officers in addition to constabulary capacity except for uniformed policing privileges. SOCA is composed of four ‘directorates’ each specialising in a particular field namely intelligence, enforcement, intervention, and corporate services. SOCA relies on a force of approximately 4,200 personnel overseen by a 10-member board appointed by the Home Secretary.
In order to meet the challenges of the 21st century organised crime landscape, the Serious Organised Crime Agency uses a variety of ground-breaking crime-fighting methods. Although SOCA still relies on traditional procedures, it carries out its duties by applying some advanced techniques. SOCA depends on first-class intelligence as well as a wide array of intelligence gathering tools and techniques. SOCA uses more extensive monitoring and interventional methods against serious criminals such as close surveillance of known career offenders and seizing criminal assets. In addition, SOCA takes advantage of worldwide policing capabilities to track and apprehend serious criminals.
Great Britain’s Serious Organised Crime Agency is truly a formidable force against modern organised crime nationally and globally. With its reliance on policing innovations, SOCA is a clear solution to a very complex problem.
