APCC Chair welcomes Serious and Organised Crime Strategy 2018
Responding to the launch of the Government’s Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, Mark Burns-Williamson APCC Chair and Lead PCC on Serious Violent Crime said:
“Police and Crime Commissioners will support today’s updated serious organised crime strategy which seeks to tackle the growing threat of serious and organised crime which can blight society and communities.
“There are huge societal costs associated with serious organised crime and we support moves to develop a more cohesive system-wide response which works across local, regional, national and international networks. PCCs are already driving forward work on a multiagency basis across a number of areas, including through the National Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery Network (NATMSN) which seeks to tackle modern slavery, specifically facilitating the development of best practice, information and intelligence sharing, and support for victims.
“However, PCCs also have a key role to play bringing key partners and agencies together, to help protect communities and vulnerable individuals helping to prevent those at risk of engaging in criminality. We look forward to working with the Government, the National Crime Agency and others to help make our communities safer, but the right level of resources need to be made available.
Following on from discussions at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and National Police Chiefs’ Council Partnership Summit, Mr Burns-Williamson added:
“Today we have heard concerns, from a range of key practitioners in law enforcement, about the lack of capacity and resources currently and the potential cliff edge facing the Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) tasked with leading the fight locally. We want to work with Ministers and officials to ensure that these concerns are addressed and that there is a properly integrated approach going forward.”
The Government's new Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) Strategy 2018 can be read here.