Briefing Note
Serious and Organised Crime Strategy
Launch of serious and organised crime strategy
The Government has launched its serious and organised crime strategy. The strategy outlines the
role of the sector and makes it clear that for the strategy to work; statutory partners will need to
work with the sector. The strategy will therefore be useful for any voluntary sector organisation
working or seeking to work with statutory bodies to reduce crime and its impact.
Neil Cleeveley, NAVCA's Director of Policy and Research, says:
“Serious and organised crime can have a serious effect on individuals and communities and it is
frequently the most vulnerable people who are targeted by organised criminals. NAVCA intends to
play an active part in ensuring that the concerns and interests of the most disadvantaged
communities and the most vulnerable people are fully reflected in the implementation of the
strategy.”
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The Home Secretary launched the serious and organised crime strategy on 3 October. Serious and
organised crime can have a serious effect on individuals and communities and it is frequently the most
vulnerable people who are targeted by organised criminals. The strategy outlines the role of the sector but
also sets out the role of statutory partners. NAVCA members can use this in their representational role with
relevant bodies to ensure that the sector is fully involved in local implementation. The briefing below is
based on text supplied by the Home Office.
Overview
The serious and organised crime strategy sets out how the Government will deal with the challenges from
serious and organised crime. It is being published to coincide with the launch of the new National Crime
Agency but also reflects changes to the threats and the lessons learnt from previous work.
The threat
Serious and organised crime includes drugs trafficking, human trafficking and organised illegal immigration,
high value fraud and other financial crimes, counterfeiting, organised acquisitive crimes and cyber crime.
The strategy also deals with serious crime which demands a national coordinated response, notably other
fraud and child sexual exploitation.
Serious and organised crime is a threat to our national security which requires a response across the whole
of Government. It costs this country well over £20 billion each year, leads to loss of life and can deprive
people of their security and prosperity. Crime groups intimidate and corrupt and can have a corrosive
impact on our communities. Cyber crime undermines confidence in our communications technology and
online economy. Organised immigration crime threatens the security of our borders. The Government
regards human trafficking as a pernicious form of modern slavery. Financial crime may undermine the
integrity and stability of our financial markets and financial institutions.
Our approach
The aim of the strategy is to substantially reduce the level of serious and organised crime affecting the UK
and its interests. The strategy uses the framework developed for the Government’s counter terrorist work
and has four main objectives: the prosecution and disruption of people engaged in serious and organised
criminality (Pursue); preventing people from becoming involved in this activity (Prevent); increasing
protection against serious and organised crime (Protect); and reducing the impact of this criminality where
it takes place (Prepare).
Role of VCSE Sector
The success of the strategy depends on close collaboration with the police and other law enforcement
agencies, police and crime commissioners, the security and intelligence agencies, national and local
government and their agencies, and the private and Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sectors.
The VCSE sector has a role to play throughout the strategy; from helping people to provide information to
law enforcement anonymously to working with the most vulnerable, both in terms of victims and those
who may be inclined or coerced into participating in organised crime. The strategy is clear that local
partnerships dealing with local issues, engaging with the communities affected, is key to how to tackle
serious and organised crime.
The strategy proposes the establishment of a new VCSE group whose main objective would be to support a
reduction in the level of serious and organised crime; the same objective as the strategy. It will coordinate
the VCSE sectors’ role in the response to serious and organised crime. It will provide organisations working
with communities, victims and witnesses with a conduit for two way communication about serious and
organised crime issues. It will also seek opportunities for joint communications campaigns and partnership
working, and provide a forum for providing feedback on the impact of the strategy at a local level. NAVCA
intends to play an active part in ensuring that the concerns and interests of the most disadvantaged
communities and the most vulnerable people are fully reflected in the implementation of the strategy.
Conclusion
The strategy is intended to deal with a threat to our national security. It is complex and wide ranging with
many agencies, departments and organisations involved alongside and in support of the NCA and police.
The Government intends to track implementation of the strategy very closely and will publish an annual
report on progress.
Further Information
The Strategy Can be downloaded from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/serious-andorganised-crime-strategy. This page also links to Home Office Research on serious and organised crime.
Peter Horner
Policy & Research Officer [email protected] 7/10/2013
SOURCE: NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action), The Tower, 2 Furnival Square, Sheffield S1 4QL
Tel 0114 278 6636 ● Fax 0114 278 7004 ● Textphone 0114 278 7025 ● [email protected] ● www.navca.org.uk