South East Organised Crime Unit criticised over collaboration and threat assessment
An inspection report is highlighting key areas for improvement in the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) and its constituent forces
Last updated 30th Aug 2024
A recent inspection report has highlighted significant areas for improvement in the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) and its constituent police forces, which include Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, Surrey Police, Sussex Police, and Thames Valley Police. The report calls for better collaboration and a more comprehensive understanding of serious and organised crime (SOC) threats across the region.
The inspection identified several key areas where SEROCU and the regional forces need to improve. These include enhancing analytical capabilities to better understand SOC threats, improving the quality and consistency of 4P plans (which cover Pursue, Prevent, Protect, and Prepare strategies), and adopting a regional approach to managing these plans. The report also recommended identifying and promoting innovative practices within the unit.
The inspection revealed a shortage of analytical resources in all four regional forces, which hampers their ability to proactively analyse SOC intelligence. This shortfall could lead to some SOC threats being overlooked. Additionally, the inconsistency in 4P plans across the region was a recurring issue, with the report noting that investigative staff within SEROCU often struggle to access these plans.
The report also raised concerns about how SOC threats are assessed. It noted that the current approach of SEROCU and its constituent forces may prevent them from fully considering all criminal activities within an organised crime group (OCG). This could lead to ineffective task assignment and resource prioritisation. The report stated, “This is the first region that we have inspected that is taking this approach,” highlighting the uniqueness and potential issues of the current assessment method.
Concerns were also raised about the recording of disruption activities. An audit conducted by SEROCU identified that some disruptions recorded between April 2022 and March 2023 did not meet national standards. The report found that some disruption activities were either not recorded at all or recorded inappropriately. SEROCU personnel are expected to receive training to clarify what constitutes a disruption activity and ensure that all valuable work is accurately recorded.
Despite these criticisms, the report acknowledged several positive aspects of SEROCU’s operations. The unit was praised for its strategic governance in managing SOC responses, its use of intelligence to understand SOC threats, and its commitment to tackling cybercrime. The unit has also benefitted from additional investment, including an 8 percent increase in funding from regional forces and plans to expand its operational buildings.
The report concluded by urging SEROCU to continue improving its collaboration with regional forces and partners, particularly in areas such as safeguarding vulnerable people and enhancing the effectiveness of 4P plans. The inspection findings have been shared with national bodies, including the Home Office and the National Crime Agency (NCA), to address inconsistencies in SOC threat assessments across the country.
Forces welcome the positive comments
In response to the report, Thames Valley Police highlighted their successes that were also reflected.
Detective Chief Superintendent Craig Kirby, Head of Crime and Intelligence, said:
“We acknowledge the HMICFRS report into the force’s response to Serious and Organised Crime and are actively progressing the learning points it has identified.
“We have seen significant successes and welcome the report's positive comments regarding our specialist fraud, surveillance and dedicated serious organised crime teams. Over the past 12 months, we have seized nearly £1million pounds in cash, carried out 301 drug seizures, secured 291 phones linked to serious and organised crime, whilst seizing the most firearms in the force's history, with 40 seized.
“Additionally we have made 522 arrests, charged 144 people and seen offenders sentenced to total of over 446 years.”
“We have also safeguarded 230 people, with 174 of these being children.
“HMICFRS highlighted our commitment to prevent serious and organised crime and our work to divert young people from becoming involved in this through pioneering initiatives such as Operation Deter and other outreach programmes, as well as our ongoing work with partners and in schools.
“They also highlighted our positive work with the Crown Prosecution Service to increase the volume of charges and remands for those found in possession of knives.
“We continue to disrupt those who engage in serious organised crime and our hotspot policing app has also helped to reduce serious violence across the Thames Valley.
“We are however aware that some areas have been highlighted as requiring improvement, particularly in relation to the resourcing of some of our specialist teams.
“In order to address these areas for improvement, a new governance structure has been implemented which is working with colleagues across the South East Regional Organised Crime unit, as well as our local policing, Public Protection and Safeguarding, and Crime and Intelligence commands.
“We have already made significant improvements in a number of areas, with us reducing the abstraction rate of our Neighbourhood officers from their local teams.
“We are aware of the resourcing challenges we face and have established mechanisms to ensure our resources are appropriately deployed, based on threat risk and harm and the wider operational demands.”