Myths and Misunderstandings
"SOCA is a police force."
SOCA is not a police force, nor is it is an intelligence agency. We use a combination of intelligence and law enforcement powers to reduce the harm caused by serious organised crime. SOCA officers are unique in that they are designated with the powers of a constable, an officer of HM Revenue and Customs, an immigration officer, or a combination of these. SOCA has no uniformed officers or marked vehicles.
"SOCA is a national police force."
SOCA has a number of national responsibilities and always works closely with local police forces and other partners, but we are not a national police force. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, our role is more focussed on intelligence than operational activity, working closely with the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA), the territorial Scottish police forces and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
In Scotland, we need the prior consent of the Lord Advocate before undertaking any activity (including interviewing witnesses or collecting evidence) even if the crime has taken place in another jurisdiction. Our officers have the powers of a constable in Scotland, with the consent of Scottish Ministers or the Director of the SCDEA.
"SOCA is the UK FBI."
The FBI enforces federal criminal law and protects the USA from terrorist and foreign intelligence threats.
In the UK, lead responsibility for reducing the risk from international terrorism rests with the police and the intelligence agencies.
SOCA’s role is to reduce the harm caused to the UK by organised crime. This goes beyond enforcing the law or investigating offences after they have been committed. We work with the police and other partners to disrupt criminal networks, to make it harder for criminals to operate, and to reduce their ability to profit from their activities.
"SOCA is a secret organisation."
SOCA uses covert techniques and tactics but it is not a secret organisation. It is a Home Office Non-Departmental Public Body created by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
To maintain the effectiveness of our work and to protect our staff and those who work with us, we operate discreetly when necessary.
"Interpol and Europol are international police forces."
Interpol (the International Criminal Police Organisation) facilitates communication between the police agencies of its 188 member countries. It is not a law enforcement body in its own right. SOCA is the UK National Central Bureau for Interpol and acts as the focal point for all incoming and outgoing Interpol enquiries.
Europol is an EU-funded organisation that co-ordinates and develops criminal intelligence across the EU. Its role is to improve the effectiveness and co-operation of EU countries’ law enforcement agencies in preventing and combating terrorism, and serious organised crime, including drug trafficking.
"It costs more to recover the proceeds of crime than SOCA recovers from criminals."
Asset recovery is just one of the things SOCA does. It is not an accurate calculation of the cost of recovery to divide the entire budget for all SOCA’s activity by the value of the assets we recover.
Success isn’t measured only by the criminal money and assets we seize. It also comes from the impact that seizure has on constraining criminal activity, undermining confidence, and the resulting reduction in harm.